How far is Wilmington, NC from Rocky Mount, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Rocky Mount, NC is about 144.1 miles (231.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.6 miles (190.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
144.09 mi
02h 16m
Flight
118.64 mi
190.94 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wilmington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.64 mi
Kilometers
190.94 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
144.09 mi
Kilometers
231.89 km
Drive Time
02h 16m

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 02h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Mount
Sat, May 2, 7:10 PM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sat, May 2, 9:26 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-05-02T16:54
Arrive Rocky Mount
Sat, May 2, 7:10 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wilmington
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Faison
NC

Township in Duplin County, North Carolina

From Wilmington
69.5 mi
01h 08m
To Rocky Mount
74.6 mi
01h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Saturday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph N
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Rocky Mount.

  1. 1

    Start on South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · South 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Keep slight right to continue on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North College Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North College Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Michael Jordan Highway

    64.6 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Michael Jordan Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 403: Faison

    1521 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Faison Highway

    18.4 mi · 24 min · Faison Highway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    5.3 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    19.1 mi · 21 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    2535 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn right

    18.2 mi · 27 min

  11. 11

    Turn right onto South Church Street

    4.1 mi · 6 min · South Church Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Sunset Avenue

    153 m · 14 sec · Sunset Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Tarboro Street

    1985 ft · 42 sec · Tarboro Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Cokey Road

    68 m · 6 sec · Cokey Road

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cokey Road

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Michael Jordan Highway
64.6 mi · 45%
Faison Highway
43.4 mi · 30%
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.74 mi · 3%
South Church Street
4.12 mi · 3%
South 3rd Street
1.71 mi · 1%
North College Road
1.17 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Michael Jordan Highway

Continue on Michael Jordan Highway

64.6 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 16m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.5 mi
118.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Faison
01h 08m from Wilmington
Leave By
1:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Wilmington and Rain Showers near Rocky Mount.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Rocky Mount?

The road trip is about 144.1 miles (231.9 km) and usually takes 02h 16m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Faison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69.5 miles from Wilmington and 74.6 miles from Rocky Mount.

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

The direct path is about 118.6 miles (190.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.16 one way or $40.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Wilmington and Rain Showers near Rocky Mount.

Stop Ideas Near Faison

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

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

BUS

Goldsboro, NC

33 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

48 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

52 mi away
101 East New Bern Road
RAIL

Fayetteville

68 mi away
472 Hay Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Rocky Mount. Straight-line distance: 118.64 mi (190.94 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Rocky Mount

#2 Rocky Mount

The most populous city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

Population53,689
Coordinates35.9382100, -77.7905300
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Start: South 3rd Street (-77.944833, 34.225717)
End: Cokey Road (-77.790276, 35.938263)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 232 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.09 gal
19.25 L · about $20.16
Round trip
$40.32
10.18 gal · 38.5 L
Estimated CO2
45.2 kg one way
Round trip: 90.5 kg / 200 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $20.16 $40.32
Mid-grade $4.43 $22.54 $45.09
Premium $4.78 $24.32 $48.64
Diesel $5.62 $28.63 $57.25

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 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Rocky Mount. The current time is 16:54:21.

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.