How far is North Wilkesboro, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from North Wilkesboro, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 281.8 miles (453.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 224.8 miles (361.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 04h 25m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Human settlement in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between North Wilkesboro and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Wilkesboro and Wilmington.
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1
Start on the route
79 m · 25 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto B Street
36 m · 11 sec · B Street
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3
Turn left onto Cbd Loop
546 ft · 13 sec · Cbd Loop
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4
Turn right onto Wilkesboro Boulevard
1543 ft · 26 sec · Wilkesboro Boulevard
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5
Continue on Wilkesboro Avenue
1613 ft · 30 sec · Wilkesboro Avenue
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6
Continue on Oakwoods Road
1.2 mi · 3 min · Oakwoods Road
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Oakwoods Road
34 m · 3 sec · Oakwoods Road
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8
Exit the roundabout onto Oakwoods Road
538 ft · 18 sec · Oakwoods Road
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9
Take the ramp left
1261 ft · 31 sec
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10
Merge slight left
46.9 mi · 54 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Greensboro
1.6 km · 2 min
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12
Merge slight left
7.3 mi · 8 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 1 hr 40 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 220 South: Rockingham
4.8 mi · 7 min
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15
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
2.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Avenue
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16
Continue on Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi · 5 min · Hamlet Avenue
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17
Turn left onto Raleigh Street
142 m · 12 sec · Raleigh Street
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18
Turn right onto Spring Street
1716 ft · 41 sec · Spring Street
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19
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi · 17 min · East Hamlet Avenue
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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21
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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22
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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23
Continue on Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East
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24
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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25
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between North Wilkesboro and Wilmington.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 74 East
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: High Point
89 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving North Wilkesboro and Sunny near Wilmington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from North Wilkesboro to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 281.8 miles (453.5 km) and usually takes 04h 25m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Ellerbe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.1 miles from North Wilkesboro and 142.8 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 224.8 miles (361.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 57 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.37 one way or $78.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around North Wilkesboro and Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Ellerbe
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 Ellerbe.
Hamlet
Southern Pines
Fayetteville
Dillon
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between North Wilkesboro and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 224.79 mi (361.76 km).
#1 North Wilkesboro
City in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States of America
| Population | 4,082 |
| Coordinates | 36.1584700, -81.1475800 |
| Altitude | 305 |
| 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: 454 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $39.37 | $78.74 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $44.02 | $88.05 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $47.49 | $94.99 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $55.90 | $111.81 |
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 · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.