How far is Wilmington, NC from Plymouth, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Plymouth, NC is about 158.6 miles (255.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132 miles (212.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 07m 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
158.64 mi
03h 33m
Flight
132.04 mi
212.5 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
132.04 mi
Kilometers
212.5 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.64 mi
Kilometers
255.31 km
Drive Time
03h 33m

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 03h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Plymouth
Sun, Apr 19, 9:36 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sun, Apr 19, 1:09 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-19T06:02
Arrive Plymouth
Sun, Apr 19, 9:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:52 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

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
Pollocksville
NC

Human settlement in Jones County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Wilmington
79.3 mi
01h 46m
To Plymouth
79.3 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph SW
Destination
86°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    9.1 mi · 14 min · Market Street

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    29.8 mi · 42 min

  9. 9

    Continue on South Marine Boulevard

    4 mi · 7 min · South Marine Boulevard

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on North Marine Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Marine Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on New Bern Highway

    28.6 mi · 35 min · New Bern Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 17 North, US 70 East: New Bern, Morehead City

    1 mi · 1 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    1727 ft · 45 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    10.8 mi · 15 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    28.9 mi · 35 min

  16. 16

    Turn right

    16.9 mi · 24 min

  17. 17

    Turn right

    10.2 mi · 15 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    3104 ft · 1 min · Washington Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    677 ft · 31 sec · East Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left

    57 m · 19 sec

  21. 21

    Turn uturn

    58 m · 19 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Market Street
38.8 mi · 24%
New Bern Highway
28.6 mi · 18%
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.8 mi · 7%
South 3rd Street
4.42 mi · 3%
South Marine Boulevard
4.04 mi · 3%
US 17 North
1.33 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Market Street

Continue straight

29.8 mi · 00h 42m

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
03h 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
132 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pollocksville
01h 46m from Wilmington
Leave By
9:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Plymouth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 158.6 miles (255.3 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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?

Pollocksville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.3 miles from Wilmington and 79.3 miles from Plymouth.

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

The direct path is about 132 miles (212.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 9:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.18 one way or $44.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Wilmington and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Plymouth.

Stop Ideas Near Pollocksville

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

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

BUS

New Bern, NC

20 mi away
203 South Front Street
BUS

Havelock, NC

30 mi away
201 Tourist Center Drive
BUS

Jacksonville, NC

34 mi away
850 New Bridge Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

42 mi away
101 East New Bern Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Plymouth. Straight-line distance: 132.04 mi (212.5 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

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

#2 Plymouth

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population3,332
Coordinates35.8668300, -76.7485600
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Plymouth (-76.74856, 35.86683)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 255 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.6 gal
21.19 L · about $22.18
Round trip
$44.36
11.2 gal · 42.38 L
Estimated CO2
49.8 kg one way
Round trip: 99.5 kg / 219 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.18 $44.36
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.80 $49.60
Premium $4.78 $26.76 $53.51
Diesel $5.62 $31.49 $62.99

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Plymouth. The current time is 06:02:31.

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.