How far is Wilmington, NC from Clinton, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Clinton, NC is about 220.4 miles (354.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 177.3 miles (285.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m 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
220.38 mi
04h 55m
Flight
177.36 mi
285.44 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
177.36 mi
Kilometers
285.44 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
220.38 mi
Kilometers
354.67 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clinton
Sat, May 30, 5:45 PM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sat, May 30, 10:41 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-30T12:50
Arrive Clinton
Sat, May 30, 5:45 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 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
7:08 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
Gibson
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Wilmington
110.2 mi
02h 27m
To Clinton
110.2 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph S
Destination
80°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1912 ft · 25 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right

    28.2 mi · 37 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Salisbury Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Salisbury Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Old Salisbury Road

    7.1 mi · 10 min · Old Salisbury Road

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Main Street

    1624 ft · 47 sec · South Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Church Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Church Street

  18. 18

    Continue on US 52

    7.3 mi · 11 min · US 52

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Sides Road

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Sides Road

  20. 20

    Turn right

    1.5 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Main Gq Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Main Gq Street

  22. 22

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Faith Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Faith Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Jake Alexander Boulevard South

    5.6 mi · 10 min · Jake Alexander Boulevard South

  25. 25

    Continue on Jake Alexander Boulevard North

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Jake Alexander Boulevard North

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left

    6.4 mi · 10 min

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Cherry Hill Road

    2324 ft · 1 min · Cherry Hill Road

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Point Road

    4.1 mi · 16 min · Point Road

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Point Road

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi · 42%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 15%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 7%
US 52
7.3 mi · 3%
Old Salisbury Road
7.08 mi · 3%
Jake Alexander Boulevard South
5.65 mi · 3%
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
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.1 mi
177.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gibson
02h 27m from Wilmington
Leave By
7:08 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Chance Rain Showers near Clinton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 220.4 miles (354.7 km) and usually takes 04h 55m 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?

Gibson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.2 miles from Wilmington and 110.2 miles from Clinton.

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

The direct path is about 177.3 miles (285.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.1 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 7:08 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.82 one way or $61.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Wilmington and Chance Rain Showers near Clinton.

Stop Ideas Near Gibson

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

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

Dillon

44 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

50 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Florence

64 mi away
805 East Day Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Clinton. Straight-line distance: 177.36 mi (285.44 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

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

#2 Clinton

City in Davie County, North Carolina, United States

Population8,332
Coordinates35.7568100, -80.4600600
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Clinton (-80.46006, 35.75681)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 355 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.78 gal
29.44 L · about $30.82
Round trip
$61.63
15.56 gal · 58.88 L
Estimated CO2
69.1 kg one way
Round trip: 138.3 kg / 305 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $30.82 $61.63
Mid-grade $4.43 $34.46 $68.92
Premium $4.78 $37.17 $74.35
Diesel $5.62 $43.75 $87.51

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Clinton. The current time is 12:50:08.

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.