How far is Wilmington, NC from Drexel, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Drexel, NC is about 265.9 miles (427.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 232.6 miles (374.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 10m 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 05h 35m.
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.
Township in Richmond County, North Carolina
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 Drexel.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Drexel.
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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
128 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 277 North Outer, NC 16 North: Brookshire Freeway
2069 ft · 50 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway
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22
Continue on Brookshire Boulevard
33.5 mi · 44 min · Brookshire Boulevard
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23
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
1.4 km · 2 min · Bethany Church Road
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24
Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Mount Olive Church Road
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25
Continue on Mt Olive Church Road
1 km · 1 min · Mt Olive Church Road
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26
Turn right
2.4 mi · 4 min
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27
Turn left onto Conover Boulevard East
1.9 mi · 3 min · Conover Boulevard East
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28
Take the ramp slight right
1193 ft · 29 sec
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29
Merge slight left
19.3 mi · 22 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Valdese
579 ft · 15 sec
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31
Turn left onto Abees Grove Church Road
1157 ft · 35 sec · Abees Grove Church Road
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32
Turn sharp left onto Carolina Street Southeast
117 m · 12 sec · Carolina Street Southeast
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33
Turn right onto Flat Gap Road
2398 ft · 59 sec · Flat Gap Road
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34
Turn right onto Jacumin Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Jacumin Road
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35
Continue on Messer Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Messer Road
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36
Turn left
2284 ft · 44 sec
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37
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.3 km · 2 min · South Main Street
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38
Turn right onto Mimosa Avenue
17 m · 3 sec · Mimosa Avenue
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mimosa Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Drexel.
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 Drexel.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Drexel?
The road trip is about 265.9 miles (427.9 km) and usually takes 05h 35m 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?
Cordova is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132.8 miles from Wilmington and 133 miles from Drexel.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 232.6 miles (374.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.3 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 5:50 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.15 one way or $74.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Drexel.
Stop Ideas Near Cordova
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 Cordova.
Hamlet
Southern Pines
Dillon
Florence
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Drexel. Straight-line distance: 232.6 mi (374.34 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 Drexel
Human settlement in Burke County, North Carolina, United States of America
| Population | 1,861 |
| Coordinates | 35.7579100, -81.6042600 |
| Altitude | 364 |
| Country | United States |
End: Drexel (-81.60426, 35.75791)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 428 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $37.15 | $74.31 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $41.54 | $83.09 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $44.82 | $89.64 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $52.75 | $105.51 |
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 · Apr 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.