How far is Wilmington, NC from Harrisburg, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Harrisburg, NC is about 198.8 miles (319.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 171.6 miles (276.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 15m 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
198.8 mi
04h 07m
Flight
171.65 mi
276.25 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
171.65 mi
Kilometers
276.25 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.8 mi
Kilometers
319.94 km
Drive Time
04h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Harrisburg
Sun, May 31, 8:23 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sun, May 31, 12:31 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-31T04:16
Arrive Harrisburg
Sun, May 31, 8:23 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 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
8:44 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
99.3 mi
02h 03m
To Harrisburg
99.5 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph E
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2972 ft · 50 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Williams Street

    1322 ft · 31 sec · Williams Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Polk Street

    13.4 mi · 20 min · Polk Street

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    32 m · 3 sec

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    69 m · 5 sec

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn straight

    25 m · 3 sec

  20. 20

    Turn slight left

    6.7 mi · 9 min

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    40 m · 3 sec

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Take the ramp right toward I 485 North Outer

    2127 ft · 52 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway

    10.7 mi · 11 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 49: Harrisburg, University City Boulevard

    1196 ft · 29 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on NC 49 North: Cabarrus Arena, Harrisburg

    51 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto University City Boulevard

    1.9 mi · 3 min · University City Boulevard

  28. 28

    Continue on NC Highway 49

    1.4 km · 2 min · NC Highway 49

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Morehead Road

    973 ft · 27 sec · Morehead Road

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Plaza Drive

    124 m · 18 sec · Plaza Drive

  31. 31

    Continue on Plaza Drive

    858 ft · 38 sec · Plaza Drive

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Plaza Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi · 46%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 17%
Polk Street
23.5 mi · 12%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 7%
Governor James G Martin Freeway
10.7 mi · 5%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
7.05 mi · 4%
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 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.2 mi
171.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Maxton
02h 03m from Wilmington
Leave By
8:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Harrisburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 198.8 miles (319.9 km) and usually takes 04h 07m 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 99.3 miles from Wilmington and 99.5 miles from Harrisburg.

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

The direct path is about 171.6 miles (276.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.2 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 8:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.81 one way or $55.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Harrisburg. Straight-line distance: 171.65 mi (276.25 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

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

#2 Harrisburg

Town in North Carolina

Population16,852
Coordinates35.3239500, -80.6578400
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Harrisburg (-80.65784, 35.32395)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.02 gal
26.56 L · about $27.81
Round trip
$55.61
14.04 gal · 53.12 L
Estimated CO2
62.4 kg one way
Round trip: 124.8 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.81 $55.61
Mid-grade $4.43 $31.09 $62.18
Premium $4.78 $33.54 $67.08
Diesel $5.62 $39.48 $78.96

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Harrisburg. The current time is 04:16:11.

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.