How far is Wilmington, NC from Franklin, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Franklin, NC is about 210.3 miles (338.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 177.7 miles (286 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 01m 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
210.34 mi
04h 30m
Flight
177.72 mi
286.02 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
177.72 mi
Kilometers
286.02 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
210.34 mi
Kilometers
338.51 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Sat, May 30, 6:10 PM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sat, May 30, 10:40 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-30T13:39
Arrive Franklin
Sat, May 30, 6:10 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 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
7:58 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
Laurinburg
NC

City in and county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, United States

From Wilmington
105.1 mi
02h 15m
To Franklin
105.2 mi
02h 15m

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
81°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

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

    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

    1.4 km · 1 min

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi · 44%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 16%
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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
177.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Laurinburg
02h 15m from Wilmington
Leave By
7:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 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 210.3 miles (338.5 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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 105.1 miles from Wilmington and 105.2 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 177.7 miles (286 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 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 7:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.39 one way or $58.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.9 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 Showers And Thunderstorms near Franklin.

Stop Ideas Near Laurinburg

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

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

Dillon

40 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

45 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Fayetteville

61 mi away
472 Hay Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 177.72 mi (286.02 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

Population3,619
Coordinates35.7212500, -80.4989500
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Franklin (-80.49895, 35.72125)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 339 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.42 gal
28.1 L · about $29.39
Round trip
$58.78
14.84 gal · 56.2 L
Estimated CO2
65.9 kg one way
Round trip: 131.9 kg / 291 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.39 $58.78
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.86 $65.73
Premium $4.78 $35.45 $70.91
Diesel $5.62 $41.73 $83.46

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 Franklin. The current time is 13:39:33.

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.