How far is Southern Shores, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Southern Shores, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 249.4 miles (401.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 05m 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 32m.
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.
Township in Beaufort County, North Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Southern Shores and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Shores and Wilmington.
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1
Start on the route
78 m · 18 sec
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2
Continue on 3rd Avenue
1195 ft · 58 sec · 3rd Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Duck Road
1.5 mi · 5 min · Duck Road
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4
Continue on Ocean Boulevard
1.5 mi · 3 min · Ocean Boulevard
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5
Turn left onto North Croatan Highway
14.9 mi · 24 min · North Croatan Highway
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6
Continue on South Virginia Dare Trail
1.4 mi · 2 min · South Virginia Dare Trail
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7
Continue on Washington Baum Bridge
20.7 mi · 28 min · Washington Baum Bridge
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8
Keep slight left
57.8 mi · 1 hr 14 min
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9
Turn left onto Andrews Street
16.9 mi · 24 min · Andrews Street
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10
Merge slight left
738 ft · 11 sec
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11
Take the exit slight left
117 m · 17 sec
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12
Turn left
22.2 mi · 28 min
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13
Turn slight left
6.9 mi · 8 min
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14
Turn right onto Weyerhaeuser Road
3.6 mi · 5 min · Weyerhaeuser Road
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15
Continue on Washington Post Road
6.9 mi · 9 min · Washington Post Road
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16
Take the exit slight right
1925 ft · 47 sec
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17
Merge slight left
1.4 km · 56 sec
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18
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: Jacksonville
30.2 mi · 38 min
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19
Keep slight right to continue on North Marine Boulevard
1930 ft · 41 sec · North Marine Boulevard
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20
Continue on North Marine Boulevard
3.7 mi · 6 min · North Marine Boulevard
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Wilmington Highway
24.9 mi · 35 min · Wilmington Highway
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22
Continue straight
5.6 mi · 8 min
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23
Continue straight
8.1 mi · 13 min
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24
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12.4 mi · 13 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
1336 ft · 37 sec
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26
Turn right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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27
Keep slight left
1.2 km · 1 min
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28
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
2010 ft · 31 sec · Ocean Highway East
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29
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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30
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Southern Shores and Wilmington.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Washington Baum Bridge
Keep slight left
57.8 mi · 01h 14m
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.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 249.4 miles (401.3 km) and usually takes 04h 32m 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?
Chocowinity is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.8 miles from Southern Shores and 125.6 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.5 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 7:54 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.86 one way or $69.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Southern Shores and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Chocowinity
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 Chocowinity.
Greenville, NC
New Bern, NC
Kinston, NC
Havelock, NC
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Southern Shores and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 181.91 mi (292.76 km).
#1 Southern Shores
Town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States
| Population | 2,997 |
| Coordinates | 36.1390500, -75.7315700 |
| 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: 401 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $34.86 | $69.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $38.98 | $77.95 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $42.05 | $84.09 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $49.49 | $98.98 |
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.