How far is Surf City, NC from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance from Surf City, NC to Wilmington, NC is about 37.6 miles (60.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 45m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Township in New Hanover County, North Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Surf City and Wilmington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surf City and Wilmington.
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1
Start on Roland Avenue
18 m · 3 sec · Roland Avenue
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2
Turn right onto North New River Drive
78 m · 7 sec · North New River Drive
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
4 m · 1 sec
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4
Exit the roundabout
50 m · 5 sec
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5
Turn straight
1.2 km · 2 min
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Roland Avenue
34 m · 2 sec · Roland Avenue
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7
Exit the roundabout onto Roland Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Roland Avenue
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8
Turn left
2.8 mi · 5 min
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9
Continue straight
6 mi · 9 min
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10
Continue straight
8.1 mi · 13 min
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11
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12.4 mi · 13 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
1336 ft · 37 sec
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13
Turn right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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14
Keep slight left
1.2 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
2010 ft · 31 sec · Ocean Highway East
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16
Continue on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
1.2 km · 1 min · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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17
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
551 ft · 15 sec · South 3rd Street
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South 3rd Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Surf City and Wilmington.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
Continue on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12.4 mi · 00h 13m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Sunny leaving Surf City 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 Surf City to Wilmington?
The road trip is about 37.6 miles (60.5 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Kirkland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Surf City and 18.8 miles from Wilmington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.27 one way or $10.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Surf City and Mostly Sunny near Wilmington.
Stop Ideas Near Kirkland
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Founders Park
Lanier Parking
Leland Police-Animal Control
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kirkland.
Wilmington, NC
Jacksonville, NC
Havelock, NC
Kinston, NC
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Surf City and Wilmington. Straight-line distance: 26.66 mi (42.91 km).
#1 Surf City
Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey
| Population | 2,532 |
| Coordinates | 34.4271100, -77.5460800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| 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: 61 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 56m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 28m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $5.27 | $10.54 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $5.89 | $11.78 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $6.35 | $12.71 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $7.48 | $14.96 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.