How far is Kenly, NC from Wilmington, NC?

The driving distance from Kenly, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 121.9 miles (196.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 95.3 miles (153.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
121.93 mi
01h 57m
Flight
95.24 mi
153.27 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kenly.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
95.24 mi
Kilometers
153.27 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
121.93 mi
Kilometers
196.23 km
Drive Time
01h 57m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Sun, May 3, 5:19 AM EDT
Return by in Kenly
Sun, May 3, 7:16 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kenly
2026-05-03T03:21
Arrive Wilmington
Sun, May 3, 5:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kenly
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Magnolia
NC

Town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States

From Kenly
57.8 mi
00h 58m
To Wilmington
64.1 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
46°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Sun, May 3 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Kenly and Wilmington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenly and Wilmington.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Church Street

    63 m · 13 sec · North Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West 2nd Street

    2367 ft · 1 min · West 2nd Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on East 2nd Street

    8.3 mi · 12 min · East 2nd Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1767 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    20.2 mi · 27 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto I 40

    1824 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    64.6 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  11. 11

    Continue on North College Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Market Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Market Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South 16th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South 16th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Wooster Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Wooster Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South 3rd Street

    28 m · 2 sec · South 3rd Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kenly and Wilmington.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40
64.9 mi · 53%
East 2nd Street
43.1 mi · 35%
Market Street
2.26 mi · 2%
North College Road
1.19 mi · 1%
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
1.07 mi · 1%
Wooster Street
0.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40

Merge slight left

64.6 mi · 01h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
95.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Magnolia
00h 58m from Kenly
Leave By
2:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kenly and Clear near Wilmington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kenly to Wilmington?

The road trip is about 121.9 miles (196.2 km) and usually takes 01h 57m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Magnolia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 57.8 miles from Kenly and 64.1 miles from Wilmington.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 95.3 miles (153.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.03 one way or $34.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kenly and Clear near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near Magnolia

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Magnolia, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Magnolia.

BUS

Goldsboro, NC

55 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

58 mi away
101 East New Bern Road
BUS

Jacksonville, NC

60 mi away
850 New Bridge Street
BUS

Wilmington, NC

74 mi away
505 Cando St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kenly and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 95.24 mi (153.27 km).

Kenly

#1 Kenly

Town of the United States

Population1,624
Coordinates35.5962700, -78.1241600
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: (-78.124135, 35.596281)
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 196 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.3 gal
16.29 L · about $17.03
Round trip
$34.06
8.6 gal · 32.58 L
Estimated CO2
38.2 kg one way
Round trip: 76.4 kg / 168 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $17.03 $34.06
Mid-grade $4.43 $19.04 $38.09
Premium $4.78 $20.55 $41.09
Diesel $5.62 $24.18 $48.37

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · May 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Kenly and Wilmington. The current time is 03:21:56.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.