How far is Wilmington, NC from Denton, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Denton, NC is about 194.3 miles (312.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 00m 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
194.28 mi
04h 00m
Flight
156.8 mi
252.34 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
156.8 mi
Kilometers
252.34 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
194.28 mi
Kilometers
312.66 km
Drive Time
04h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:57 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Thu, Apr 23, 8:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-23T00:57
Arrive Denton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:57 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 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
9:00 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
Maxton
NC

City in North Carolina, United States of America

From Wilmington
97.1 mi
02h 00m
To Denton
97.2 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    10.5 mi · 11 min · G R Kindley Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Rockingham

    1626 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    4.4 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2369 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro

    22.7 mi · 25 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 211: Candor, Pinehurst

    902 ft · 24 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Pack House Road

    2118 ft · 39 sec · Pack House Road

  16. 16

    Turn slight left

    1109 ft · 19 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Candor-Troy Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · Candor-Troy Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Troy Candor Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Troy Candor Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Taft Street

    1841 ft · 48 sec · Taft Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    2596 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on West Main Street

    595 ft · 18 sec · West Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Eldorado Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Eldorado Street

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    23.1 mi · 33 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East Salisbury Street

    2209 ft · 1 min · East Salisbury Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Salisbury Street

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
80.3 mi · 41%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 17%
Eldorado Street
24.7 mi · 13%
I 73 North
22.7 mi · 12%
G R Kindley Freeway
10.5 mi · 5%
Candor-Troy Road
5.83 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 00m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.5 mi
156.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Maxton
02h 00m from Wilmington
Leave By
9:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wilmington and Sunny near Denton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 194.3 miles (312.7 km) and usually takes 04h 00m 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?

Maxton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.1 miles from Wilmington and 97.2 miles from Denton.

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

The direct path is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.5 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 9:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.17 one way or $54.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Denton.

Stop Ideas Near Maxton

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

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

RAIL

Dillon

35 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Hamlet

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

Southern Pines

49 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Fayetteville

55 mi away
472 Hay Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Denton. Straight-line distance: 156.8 mi (252.34 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

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

#2 Denton

Town in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States

Population1,700
Coordinates35.6334700, -80.1158800
Altitude213
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Denton (-80.11588, 35.63347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 313 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.86 gal
25.95 L · about $27.17
Round trip
$54.34
13.72 gal · 51.9 L
Estimated CO2
61 kg one way
Round trip: 121.9 kg / 269 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.17 $54.34
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.38 $60.77
Premium $4.78 $32.78 $65.55
Diesel $5.62 $38.58 $77.16

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

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Denton. The current time is 00:57:02.

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.