How far is Wilmington, NC from Richlands, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Richlands, NC is about 334.4 miles (538.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 278.2 miles (447.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 17m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Union County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Richlands.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Richlands.
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1
Start on South 3rd Street
113 m · 14 sec · South 3rd Street
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2
Continue on South 3rd Street
155 m · 23 sec · South 3rd Street
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3
Turn right
3.5 mi · 5 min
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4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
60.1 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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5
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20.2 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11.6 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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9
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street
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10
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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11
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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13
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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14
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard
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15
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
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17
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard
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18
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway
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19
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
128 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 277 North Outer, NC 16 North: Brookshire Freeway
2069 ft · 50 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway
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22
Continue on Brookshire Boulevard
33.5 mi · 44 min · Brookshire Boulevard
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23
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
1.4 km · 2 min · Bethany Church Road
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24
Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Mount Olive Church Road
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25
Continue on Mt Olive Church Road
1 km · 1 min · Mt Olive Church Road
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26
Turn right
2.4 mi · 4 min
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27
Turn left onto Conover Boulevard East
1.9 mi · 3 min · Conover Boulevard East
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28
Take the ramp slight right
1193 ft · 29 sec
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29
Merge slight left
43.7 mi · 49 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward NC 226: Marion, Shelby
1541 ft · 44 sec
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31
Turn right
15 mi · 22 min
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32
Continue straight
1.2 mi · 2 min
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33
Turn left onto Peppers Creek Road
4.4 mi · 9 min · Peppers Creek Road
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34
At the end of the road, turn right onto Peppers Creek Road
705 ft · 23 sec · Peppers Creek Road
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35
Turn right onto Altapass Highway
4.5 mi · 8 min · Altapass Highway
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36
Turn left
1.3 mi · 2 min
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37
Turn right onto South NC Highway 226
6.5 mi · 9 min · South NC Highway 226
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38
Turn left onto Mine Creek Road
3.7 mi · 7 min · Mine Creek Road
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39
At the end of the road, turn left
3.1 mi · 5 min
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40
Turn slight left
1.9 mi · 3 min
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41
Turn slight left
4.1 mi · 7 min
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42
Turn right onto Pigeon Roost Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Pigeon Roost Road
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43
Turn left onto Byrd Creek Road
1.9 mi · 7 min · Byrd Creek Road
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Byrd Creek Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Richlands.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Wilmington and Sunny near Richlands.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Richlands?
The road trip is about 334.4 miles (538.2 km) and usually takes 07h 17m 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?
Wingate is a useful midpoint, sitting about 167.1 miles from Wilmington and 167.3 miles from Richlands.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 278.2 miles (447.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.2 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 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 $46.74 one way or $93.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Richlands.
Stop Ideas Near Wingate
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wingate.
Charlotte
Kannapolis
Hamlet
Gastonia
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Richlands. Straight-line distance: 278.27 mi (447.83 km).
#1 Wilmington
The largest city in the state of North Carolina.
| Population | 124,794 |
| Coordinates | 34.2257300, -77.9447100 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Richlands
Town in North Carolina, USA
| Population | 1,718 |
| Coordinates | 36.0865000, -82.3143000 |
| Altitude | 1056 |
| Country | United States |
End: Richlands (-82.3143, 36.0865)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 538 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $46.74 | $93.48 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $52.26 | $104.52 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $56.38 | $112.76 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $66.36 | $132.73 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.