How far is Wilmington, NC from Banner Elk, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Banner Elk, NC is about 308.1 miles (495.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 259 miles (416.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 45m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Anson County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Banner Elk.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Banner Elk.
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1
Start on South 3rd Street
113 m · 14 sec · South 3rd Street
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2
Continue on South 3rd Street
155 m · 23 sec · South 3rd Street
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3
Turn right
3.5 mi · 5 min
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4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60.1 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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5
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20.2 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11.6 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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9
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street
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10
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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11
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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13
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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14
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard
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15
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
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17
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard
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18
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway
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19
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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20
Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway
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21
Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
2.5 mi · 4 min
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22
Take the ramp slight left
1678 ft · 41 sec
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23
Merge slight left
17.3 mi · 22 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward US 321 North: Lincolnton
1736 ft · 45 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto North Chester Street
3070 ft · 52 sec · North Chester Street
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26
Continue on Gastonia Dallas Highway
49.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Gastonia Dallas Highway
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27
Continue on Blowing Rock Boulevard
18.5 mi · 29 min · Blowing Rock Boulevard
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28
Continue on Lenoir Turnpike
1.2 km · 2 min · Lenoir Turnpike
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29
Continue on Valley Boulevard
1.2 km · 2 min · Valley Boulevard
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30
Turn left onto Sunset Drive
778 ft · 39 sec · Sunset Drive
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31
Turn right onto Ransom Street
98 m · 19 sec · Ransom Street
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32
Turn left
76 m · 20 sec
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33
Turn left onto Main Street
1272 ft · 46 sec · Main Street
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34
Turn right onto Yonahlossee Road
1.6 mi · 2 min · Yonahlossee Road
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35
Turn right onto Cone Road
55 m · 10 sec · Cone Road
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36
Turn left onto Shulls Mill Road
2.1 mi · 5 min · Shulls Mill Road
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37
Turn left onto Old Turnpike Road
2.8 mi · 7 min · Old Turnpike Road
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38
At the end of the road, turn left onto Shulls Mill Road
2736 ft · 1 min · Shulls Mill Road
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39
At the end of the road, turn left onto NC Highway 105 South
6.3 mi · 11 min · NC Highway 105 South
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40
Turn right onto Tynecastle Highway
3.8 mi · 8 min · Tynecastle Highway
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41
Continue on Shawneehaw Avenue South
2524 ft · 2 min · Shawneehaw Avenue South
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42
At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street East
26 m · 3 sec · Main Street East
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Main Street East
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Banner Elk.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Banner Elk.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Banner Elk?
The road trip is about 308.1 miles (495.9 km) and usually takes 06h 45m 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 154 miles from Wilmington and 154.2 miles from Banner Elk.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 259 miles (416.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.1 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 $43.06 one way or $86.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Banner Elk.
Stop Ideas Near Polkton
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 Polkton.
Hamlet
Charlotte
Kannapolis
Southern Pines
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Banner Elk. Straight-line distance: 258.96 mi (416.76 km).
#1 Wilmington
The largest city in the state of North Carolina.
| Population | 124,794 |
| Coordinates | 34.2257300, -77.9447100 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Banner Elk
Township in Avery County, North Carolina
| Population | 1,082 |
| Coordinates | 36.1631800, -81.8715000 |
| Altitude | 1128 |
| Country | United States |
End: Banner Elk (-81.8715, 36.16318)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 496 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 09m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 50m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $43.06 | $86.11 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $48.14 | $96.29 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $51.94 | $103.87 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $61.13 | $122.27 |
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 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.