How far is Wilmington, NC from Bethlehem, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Bethlehem, NC is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220 miles (354.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 44m 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
253.17 mi
05h 22m
Flight
220.01 mi
354.07 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
220.01 mi
Kilometers
354.07 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.17 mi
Kilometers
407.43 km
Drive Time
05h 22m

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 05h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethlehem
Wed, Apr 15, 12:50 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Wed, Apr 15, 6:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-14T19:27
Arrive Bethlehem
Wed, Apr 15, 12:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wilmington
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
East Rockingham
NC

Township in Richmond County, North Carolina

From Wilmington
126.5 mi
02h 41m
To Bethlehem
126.7 mi
02h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph SW
Destination
88°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    128 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 277 North Outer, NC 16 North: Brookshire Freeway

    2069 ft · 50 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Brookshire Freeway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway

  22. 22

    Continue on Brookshire Boulevard

    33.5 mi · 44 min · Brookshire Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Bethany Church Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Bethany Church Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Mount Olive Church Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Mt Olive Church Road

    1 km · 1 min · Mt Olive Church Road

  26. 26

    Turn right

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Conover Boulevard East

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Conover Boulevard East

  28. 28

    Continue on Tate Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Tate Boulevard

  29. 29

    Turn right onto McDonald Parkway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · McDonald Parkway

  30. 30

    Continue on 24th Street Northeast

    2113 ft · 51 sec · 24th Street Northeast

  31. 31

    Turn straight onto 29th Avenue Drive Northeast

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 29th Avenue Drive Northeast

  32. 32

    Turn right onto 16th Street Northeast

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 16th Street Northeast

  33. 33

    Turn slight left onto Cloninger Mill Road Northeast

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Cloninger Mill Road Northeast

  34. 34

    Turn right onto North Center Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · North Center Street

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Telephone Exchange Road

    38 m · 6 sec · Telephone Exchange Road

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Telephone Exchange Road

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi · 36%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 13%
Brookshire Boulevard
33.5 mi · 13%
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 7%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 6%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 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

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
05h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.1 mi
220 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Rockingham
02h 41m from Wilmington
Leave By
6:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Bethlehem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km) and usually takes 05h 22m 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?

East Rockingham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.5 miles from Wilmington and 126.7 miles from Bethlehem.

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

The direct path is about 220 miles (354.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.1 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.37 one way or $70.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near East Rockingham

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

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

Southern Pines

44 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Dillon

66 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Florence

80 mi away
805 East Day Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Bethlehem. Straight-line distance: 220.01 mi (354.07 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a place in North Carolina, United States.

Population0
Coordinates35.8256900, -81.3070300
Altitude343
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Bethlehem (-81.30703, 35.82569)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 407 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.93 gal
33.82 L · about $35.37
Round trip
$70.74
17.86 gal · 67.64 L
Estimated CO2
79.4 kg one way
Round trip: 158.7 kg / 350 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.37 $70.74
Mid-grade $4.43 $39.55 $79.10
Premium $4.78 $42.67 $85.34
Diesel $5.62 $50.22 $100.44

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Bethlehem. The current time is 19:27:40.

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.