How far is Morehead City, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Morehead City, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 101.5 miles (163.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 59m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 77.4 miles (124.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 59m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
The most populous city in Onslow County, North Carolina.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Morehead City and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morehead City and Wilmington.
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1
Start on the route
75 m · 23 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto North 18th Street
38 m · 6 sec · North 18th Street
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3
Turn right onto Arendell Street
4.1 mi · 6 min · Arendell Street
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4
Turn left
16.3 mi · 24 min
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5
Continue on Cedar Point Boulevard
2.9 mi · 6 min · Cedar Point Boulevard
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6
Continue on West Corbett Avenue
3.2 mi · 7 min · West Corbett Avenue
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7
Continue on Freedom Way
9.3 mi · 12 min · Freedom Way
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8
Continue on Lejeune Boulevard
5 mi · 8 min · Lejeune Boulevard
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
2.1 mi · 3 min · Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
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10
Continue on Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
1839 ft · 26 sec · Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
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11
Continue on KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight left
1 km · 53 sec
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13
Merge slight right onto Wilmington Highway
29.3 mi · 41 min · Wilmington Highway
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14
Continue straight
8.1 mi · 13 min
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15
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12.4 mi · 13 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
1336 ft · 37 sec
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17
Turn right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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18
Keep slight left
1.2 km · 1 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
2010 ft · 31 sec · Ocean Highway East
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20
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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21
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Morehead City and Wilmington.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
Wilmington Highway
Merge slight right onto Wilmington Highway
29.3 mi · 00h 41m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Morehead City and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Morehead City to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 101.5 miles (163.4 km) and usually takes 01h 59m 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?
Jacksonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.6 miles from Morehead City and 50.9 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 77.4 miles (124.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.1 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 2:32 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.18 one way or $28.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Morehead City and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Jacksonville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Jacksonville.
Jacksonville, NC
Havelock, NC
New Bern, NC
Kinston, NC
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Morehead City and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 77.45 mi (124.64 km).
#1 Morehead City
City in North Carolina, United States
| Population | 9,669 |
| Coordinates | 34.7229400, -76.7260400 |
| Altitude | 5 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wilmington
The largest city in the state of North Carolina.
| Population | 124,794 |
| Coordinates | 34.2257300, -77.9447100 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 163 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 03h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 02h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $14.18 | $28.36 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $15.86 | $31.71 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $17.11 | $34.21 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $20.13 | $40.27 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.