How far is Wilmington, NC from Cornelius, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Cornelius, NC is about 214.4 miles (345 km), with a travel time of about 04h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 04h 26m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 and county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Cornelius.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Cornelius.
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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
2972 ft · 50 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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13
Turn right onto Williams Street
1322 ft · 31 sec · Williams Street
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14
Turn left onto Polk Street
13.4 mi · 20 min · Polk Street
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15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
32 m · 3 sec
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16
Exit the roundabout
4.2 mi · 6 min
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17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
69 m · 5 sec
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18
Exit the roundabout
2.8 mi · 4 min
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19
At the end of the road, turn straight
25 m · 3 sec
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20
Turn slight left
6.7 mi · 9 min
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
40 m · 3 sec
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22
Exit the roundabout
3.1 mi · 4 min
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23
Take the ramp right toward I 485 North Outer
2127 ft · 52 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway
13.1 mi · 14 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway
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25
Continue on H Allen Tate Jr Highway
5.6 mi · 6 min · H Allen Tate Jr Highway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
1671 ft · 41 sec
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27
Keep slight left
1.3 km · 2 min
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28
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North: Statesville
1.1 km · 1 min
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29
Merge slight left onto I-77 North
1109 ft · 15 sec · I-77 North
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30
Continue on I 77 North
1.4 mi · 2 min · I 77 North
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31
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North
2.7 mi · 3 min · I 77 North
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32
Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North
2 mi · 2 min · I 77 North
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33
Continue on I-77 North
1.6 mi · 2 min · I-77 North
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34
Take the exit slight right toward US 21 South: Catawba Avenue, Lake Norman, Cornelius
1262 ft · 31 sec
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35
Keep slight right to continue on US 21 South: Cornelius
72 m · 8 sec
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36
Turn straight onto Catawba Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Catawba Avenue
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37
Turn left onto Church Street
1841 ft · 1 min · Church Street
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38
Turn right onto Legion Street
124 m · 18 sec · Legion Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Legion Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Cornelius.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Wilmington and Sunny near Cornelius.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Cornelius?
The road trip is about 214.4 miles (345 km) and usually takes 04h 26m 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?
Laurinburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.1 miles from Wilmington and 107.2 miles from Cornelius.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.6 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 8:06 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.98 one way or $59.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Cornelius.
Stop Ideas Near Laurinburg
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 Laurinburg.
Hamlet
Dillon
Southern Pines
Fayetteville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Cornelius. Straight-line distance: 186.84 mi (300.69 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 Cornelius
City in North Carolina, United States
| Population | 30,804 |
| Coordinates | 35.4868000, -80.8600700 |
| Altitude | 245 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cornelius (-80.86007, 35.4868)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 345 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $29.98 | $59.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $33.53 | $67.06 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $36.17 | $72.34 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $42.57 | $85.15 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.