How far is Wilmington, NC from Hampstead, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Hampstead, NC is about 23.2 miles (37.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.26 mi
00h 29m
Flight
16.58 mi
26.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wilmington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.58 mi
Kilometers
26.68 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.26 mi
Kilometers
37.43 km
Drive Time
00h 29m

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 00h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hampstead
Thu, May 7, 11:20 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Thu, May 7, 11:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-07T10:50
Arrive Hampstead
Thu, May 7, 11:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Wilmington
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Northchase
NC

Township in New Hanover County, North Carolina

From Wilmington
11.6 mi
00h 15m
To Hampstead
11.6 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 17 mph SW
Destination
Hampstead Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
69°F
Overnight
Using Burgaw as the closest live forecast in the Pender County weather hub.

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, May 7 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.3 km · 1 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit right toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern

    1888 ft · 46 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway

    11.8 mi · 13 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Market Street

    5.9 mi · 9 min · Market Street

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.8 mi · 51%
Market Street
5.93 mi · 25%
South 3rd Street
4.42 mi · 19%
I 140 East
0.36 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

John Jay Burney Jr Freeway

Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway

11.8 mi · 00h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 29m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.6 mi
16.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Northchase
00h 15m from Wilmington
Leave By
7:30 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Hampstead.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 23.2 miles (37.4 km) and usually takes 00h 29m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Northchase is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.6 miles from Wilmington and 11.6 miles from Hampstead.

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

The direct path is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.25 one way or $6.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Wilmington and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Hampstead.

Stop Ideas Near Northchase

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Northchase and the surrounding midpoint area.
Founders Park
Scenic stop 9.3 mi away

Founders Park

Leland , NC
113 Town Hall Dr, Leland, NC 28451
Rating 4.5/5 56 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Lanier Parking
Meeting point 8.3 mi away

Lanier Parking

Wrightsville Beach , NC
321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Rating 2.4/5 13 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 9.4 mi away

Leland Police-Animal Control

Leland , NC
102 Town Hall Dr, Leland, NC 28451
Rating 4.2/5 12 reviews Police department

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Northchase.

BUS

Wilmington, NC

6 mi away
505 Cando St
BUS

Jacksonville, NC

65 mi away
850 New Bridge Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

107 mi away
101 East New Bern Road
BUS

Havelock, NC

109 mi away
201 Tourist Center Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Hampstead. Straight-line distance: 16.58 mi (26.68 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Hampstead

Unincorporated community in Pender County, North Carolina

Population4,083
Coordinates34.3676700, -77.7105300
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Hampstead (-77.71053, 34.36767)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 37 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.82 gal
3.11 L · about $3.25
Round trip
$6.50
1.64 gal · 6.22 L
Estimated CO2
7.3 kg one way
Round trip: 14.6 kg / 32 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $3.25 $6.50
Mid-grade $4.43 $3.63 $7.26
Premium $4.78 $3.92 $7.84
Diesel $5.62 $4.61 $9.22

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Hampstead. The current time is 10:50:27.

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.