How far is Wilmington, NC from Franklin, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Franklin, NC is about 379.5 miles (610.8 km), with a travel time of about 07h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 315.8 miles (508.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
379.54 mi
07h 51m
Flight
315.77 mi
508.18 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
315.77 mi
Kilometers
508.18 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
379.54 mi
Kilometers
610.81 km
Drive Time
07h 51m

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 07h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Wed, May 13, 6:22 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Wed, May 13, 2:14 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-12T22:30
Arrive Franklin
Wed, May 13, 6:22 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:52 PM to 3:22 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wilmington
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Matthews
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Wilmington
189.6 mi
03h 55m
To Franklin
190 mi
03h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NE
Destination
75°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Take the ramp slight left

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    24.1 mi · 30 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby

    3242 ft · 50 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on East Dixon Boulevard

    12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard

  28. 28

    Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard

    15.7 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard

  29. 29

    Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

    18.3 mi · 20 min · Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway

    34.3 mi · 41 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight left toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville

    18.4 mi · 23 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta

    22 mi · 29 min

  33. 33

    Keep slight left to continue on Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward US 23 South, US 441 South: Dillsboro, Franklin, Atlanta

    2364 ft · 45 sec

  35. 35

    Continue straight

    16.5 mi · 23 min

  36. 36

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  37. 37

    Continue on Northeast Main Street

    2239 ft · 58 sec · Northeast Main Street

  38. 38

    Continue on East Main Street

    1282 ft · 59 sec · East Main Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Iotla Street

    55 m · 8 sec · Iotla Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Iotla Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
40 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
128 mi · 34%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 9%
NC 27
26.9 mi · 7%
US 74 West
22.6 mi · 6%
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 5%
I 40 West
18.4 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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 51m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.7 mi
315.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Matthews
03h 55m from Wilmington
Leave By
8:16 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 379.5 miles (610.8 km) and usually takes 07h 51m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Matthews is a useful midpoint, sitting about 189.6 miles from Wilmington and 190 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 315.8 miles (508.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.7 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.04 one way or $106.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 119 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Matthews

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

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

RAIL

Charlotte

17 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Gastonia

43 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Kannapolis

44 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

66 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 315.77 mi (508.18 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

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

#2 Franklin

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population4,121
Coordinates35.1823200, -83.3815400
Altitude646
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Franklin (-83.38154, 35.18232)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 611 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.39 gal
50.7 L · about $53.04
Round trip
$106.08
26.78 gal · 101.4 L
Estimated CO2
119 kg one way
Round trip: 238 kg / 525 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $53.04 $106.08
Mid-grade $4.43 $59.30 $118.61
Premium $4.78 $63.98 $127.95
Diesel $5.62 $75.31 $150.61

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Franklin. The current time is 22:30:49.

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.