How far is Pinehurst, NC from Wilmington, NC?

The driving distance from Pinehurst, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 280.2 miles (451 km), with a travel time of about 04h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 235.7 miles (379.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
280.25 mi
04h 38m
Flight
235.65 mi
379.25 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pinehurst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
235.65 mi
Kilometers
379.25 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
280.25 mi
Kilometers
451.02 km
Drive Time
04h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Sat, Apr 18, 3:26 AM EDT
Return by in Pinehurst
Sat, Apr 18, 8:04 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pinehurst
2026-04-17T22:47
Arrive Wilmington
Sat, Apr 18, 3:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pinehurst
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Lilesville
NC

Human settlement in Anson County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Pinehurst
137.6 mi
02h 19m
To Wilmington
142.7 mi
02h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph WNW
Destination
88°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Turtle Dove Street

    148 m · 24 sec · Turtle Dove Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Calico Road

    973 ft · 26 sec · Calico Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Morganton Boulevard Southwest

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Morganton Boulevard Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn straight

    82 m · 10 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Southwest Boulevard

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Southwest Boulevard

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    1483 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Hickory Boulevard

    46.3 mi · 58 min · Hickory Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on North Chester Street

    2300 ft · 41 sec · North Chester Street

  9. 9

    Take the exit straight toward I 85 North: Charlotte

    1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

    10.2 mi · 12 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte

    1104 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium

    118 m · 11 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard

    1677 ft · 22 sec · Brookshire Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Brookshire Freeway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard

    2261 ft · 55 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Independence Expressway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard

    109 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on East Independence Expressway

    2.1 mi · 2 min · East Independence Expressway

  20. 20

    Continue on East Independence Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 4 min · East Independence Boulevard

  21. 21

    Continue on Independence Boulevard

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Independence Boulevard

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway

    18.7 mi · 22 min · Monroe Expressway

  23. 23

    Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    1804 ft · 28 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on West Marshville Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 5 min · West Marshville Boulevard

  25. 25

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.1 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  28. 28

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  29. 29

    Continue on West Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  32. 32

    Continue on G R Kindley Freeway

    14.9 mi · 16 min · G R Kindley Freeway

  33. 33

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    9.7 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  35. 35

    Continue on American Indian Highway

    33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway

  36. 36

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  37. 37

    Continue on Ocean Highway East

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East

  38. 38

    Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

    1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

  39. 39

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pinehurst 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
40 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi · 32%
Hickory Boulevard
46.3 mi · 17%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 12%
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi · 7%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi · 5%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

59.8 mi · 01h 13m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.5 mi
235.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lilesville
02h 19m from Pinehurst
Leave By
7:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pinehurst and Sunny near Wilmington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 280.2 miles (451 km) and usually takes 04h 38m 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?

Lilesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.6 miles from Pinehurst and 142.7 miles from Wilmington.

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

The direct path is about 235.7 miles (379.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.5 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 7:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.17 one way or $78.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pinehurst and Sunny near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near Lilesville

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

28 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Southern Pines

59 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Charlotte

82 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

83 mi away
201 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pinehurst and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 235.65 mi (379.25 km).

Pinehurst

#1 Pinehurst

Village in North Carolina

Population17,014
Coordinates35.8526300, -81.6064900
Altitude329
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Turtle Dove Street (-81.606487, 35.852802)
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 451 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.89 gal
37.43 L · about $39.17
Round trip
$78.35
19.78 gal · 74.86 L
Estimated CO2
87.9 kg one way
Round trip: 175.8 kg / 388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $39.17 $78.35
Mid-grade $4.43 $43.80 $87.61
Premium $4.78 $47.25 $94.51
Diesel $5.62 $55.62 $111.24

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 Pinehurst and Wilmington. The current time is 22:47:36.

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.