How far is Wilmington, NC from Balfour, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Balfour, NC is about 301 miles (484.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 268.3 miles (431.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
300.97 mi
06h 11m
Flight
268.3 mi
431.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wilmington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
268.3 mi
Kilometers
431.78 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
300.97 mi
Kilometers
484.36 km
Drive Time
06h 11m

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 06h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Balfour
Sat, Apr 18, 2:04 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sat, Apr 18, 8:15 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-17T19:53
Arrive Balfour
Sat, Apr 18, 2:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:11 PM to 1:41 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wilmington
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Polkton
NC

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

From Wilmington
150.3 mi
03h 05m
To Balfour
150.7 mi
03h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 3rd Street

    113 m · 14 sec · South 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Continue on South 3rd Street

    155 m · 23 sec · South 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    3.5 mi · 5 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    60.1 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on American Indian Highway

    33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    20.2 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway

    14.4 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    11.6 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on East Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  11. 11

    Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on East Marshville Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway

    18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard

    7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on East Independence Expressway

    5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue on East Independence Boulevard

    1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Take the ramp slight left

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    24.1 mi · 30 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby

    3242 ft · 50 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on East Dixon Boulevard

    12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard

  28. 28

    Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard

    15.7 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard

  29. 29

    Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

    18.3 mi · 20 min · Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway

    16.4 mi · 19 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 West: Hendersonville

    1135 ft · 27 sec

  32. 32

    Continue on Four Seasons Boulevard

    2372 ft · 54 sec · Four Seasons Boulevard

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Thompson Street

    719 ft · 21 sec · Thompson Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Signal Hill Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Signal Hill Road

  35. 35

    Continue on Berkeley Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Berkeley Road

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Balfour Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
36 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
110 mi · 37%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 11%
NC 27
26.9 mi · 9%
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 6%
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18.3 mi · 6%
West Dixon Boulevard
15.7 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

60.1 mi · 01h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 11m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.7 mi
268.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Polkton
03h 05m from Wilmington
Leave By
11:38 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Balfour.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 301 miles (484.4 km) and usually takes 06h 11m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Polkton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.3 miles from Wilmington and 150.7 miles from Balfour.

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

The direct path is about 268.3 miles (431.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.07 one way or $84.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Polkton

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

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

Charlotte

62 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

67 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Southern Pines

76 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Balfour. Straight-line distance: 268.3 mi (431.78 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Balfour

#2 Balfour

Township in Henderson County, North Carolina

Population1,187
Coordinates35.3465100, -82.4720600
Altitude646
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Balfour (-82.47206, 35.34651)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 484 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.62 gal
40.2 L · about $42.07
Round trip
$84.13
21.24 gal · 80.4 L
Estimated CO2
94.4 kg one way
Round trip: 188.8 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $42.07 $84.13
Mid-grade $4.43 $47.04 $94.07
Premium $4.78 $50.74 $101.48
Diesel $5.62 $59.73 $119.45

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Balfour. The current time is 19:53:46.

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.