How far is Pleasant Garden, NC from Wilmington, NC?

The driving distance from Pleasant Garden, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 177.3 miles (285.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 158 miles (254.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 14m 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
177.37 mi
03h 07m
Flight
157.95 mi
254.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pleasant Garden.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
157.95 mi
Kilometers
254.2 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.37 mi
Kilometers
285.45 km
Drive Time
03h 07m

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 03h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilmington
Sun, May 24, 5:42 AM EDT
Return by in Pleasant Garden
Sun, May 24, 8:49 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pleasant Garden
2026-05-24T02:34
Arrive Wilmington
Sun, May 24, 5:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:46 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pleasant Garden
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
Benson
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Pleasant Garden
99.5 mi
01h 33m
To Wilmington
77.9 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, May 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Garden and Wilmington.

  1. 1

    Start on Pleasant Garden Road

    3 m · 3 sec · Pleasant Garden Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Neelley Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Neelley Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1385 ft · 34 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    24.4 mi · 29 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro

    1413 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left

    10.9 mi · 15 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    21 mi · 27 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 540 Toll South

    2827 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Triangle Expressway

    22 mi · 24 min · Triangle Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Wilmington

    2538 ft · 49 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 53 sec

  12. 12

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

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

    107.3 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  14. 14

    Continue on North College Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · North Kerr Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Market Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Market Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South 16th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South 16th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Wooster Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Wooster Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South 3rd Street

    28 m · 2 sec · South 3rd Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pleasant Garden 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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
109 mi · 61%
Neelley Road
27 mi · 15%
Triangle Expressway
22 mi · 12%
US 64
21.3 mi · 12%
Market Street
2.26 mi · 1%
SR 42
1.74 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 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
03h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.3 mi
158 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Benson
01h 33m from Pleasant Garden
Leave By
10:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Pleasant Garden and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wilmington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pleasant Garden to Wilmington?

The road trip is about 177.3 miles (285.4 km) and usually takes 03h 07m 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?

Benson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.5 miles from Pleasant Garden and 77.9 miles from Wilmington.

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

The direct path is about 158 miles (254.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.3 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 10:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.80 one way or $49.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Pleasant Garden and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wilmington.

Stop Ideas Near Benson

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

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

RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

29 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

44 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Fayetteville

48 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

48 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pleasant Garden and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 157.95 mi (254.2 km).

Pleasant Garden

#1 Pleasant Garden

City in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population4,990
Coordinates35.9620800, -79.7622500
Altitude261
CountryUnited States
Wilmington

#2 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Pleasant Garden Road (-79.762092, 35.96208)
End: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 285 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.26 gal
23.69 L · about $24.80
Round trip
$49.59
12.52 gal · 47.38 L
Estimated CO2
55.6 kg one way
Round trip: 111.3 kg / 245 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.80 $49.59
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.73 $55.45
Premium $4.78 $29.91 $59.82
Diesel $5.62 $35.21 $70.41

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Pleasant Garden and Wilmington. The current time is 02:34:58.

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.