How far is Oxford, NC from Wilmington, NC?

The driving distance from Oxford, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 174 miles (280.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.6 miles (239.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 41m 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
174.03 mi
02h 50m
Flight
148.59 mi
239.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oxford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.59 mi
Kilometers
239.14 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.03 mi
Kilometers
280.08 km
Drive Time
02h 50m

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 02h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Sat, Apr 18, 8:20 PM EDT
Return by in Oxford
Sat, Apr 18, 11:11 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oxford
2026-04-18T17:29
Arrive Wilmington
Sat, Apr 18, 8:20 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oxford
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
Newton Grove
NC

Township in Sampson County, North Carolina

From Oxford
85.7 mi
01h 25m
To Wilmington
88.4 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph S
Destination
89°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Hillsboro Street

    1263 ft · 28 sec · Hillsboro Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Lewis Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Lewis Street

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    11.7 mi · 17 min

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    20 mi · 30 min · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Glenwood Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Glenwood Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 440 East: Wilson, Wake Forest, Rocky Mount

    1078 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    9.4 mi · 12 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Wilmington

    1 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    7.4 mi · 8 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

    107.3 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  13. 13

    Continue on North College Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Market Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Market Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South 16th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South 16th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Wooster Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Wooster Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto South 3rd Street

    28 m · 2 sec · South 3rd Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
108 mi · 62%
North Main Street
20 mi · 12%
Lewis Street
13.8 mi · 8%
I 440 East
9.64 mi · 6%
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
9.53 mi · 5%
Market Street
2.26 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

107 mi · 01h 55m

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
02h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.4 mi
148.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newton Grove
01h 25m from Oxford
Leave By
12:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Oxford 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 Oxford to Wilmington?

The road trip is about 174 miles (280.1 km) and usually takes 02h 50m 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?

Newton Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.7 miles from Oxford and 88.4 miles from Wilmington.

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

The direct path is about 148.6 miles (239.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.4 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 12:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.32 one way or $48.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Oxford and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near Newton Grove

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Newton Grove, 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 Newton Grove.

RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

33 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

38 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
RAIL

Fayetteville

53 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

64 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oxford and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 148.59 mi (239.14 km).

Oxford

#1 Oxford

City in North Carolina, United States

Population8,905
Coordinates36.3107000, -78.5908300
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Hillsboro Street (-78.59086, 36.310741)
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.14 gal
23.25 L · about $24.32
Round trip
$48.64
12.28 gal · 46.5 L
Estimated CO2
54.6 kg one way
Round trip: 109.1 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.32 $48.64
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.19 $54.39
Premium $4.78 $29.34 $58.67
Diesel $5.62 $34.53 $69.06

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Oxford and Wilmington. The current time is 17:29:50.

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.