How far is Wilmington, NC from South Gastonia, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to South Gastonia, NC is about 223 miles (358.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197.5 miles (317.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 17m 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
223.03 mi
04h 38m
Flight
197.48 mi
317.82 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
197.48 mi
Kilometers
317.82 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.03 mi
Kilometers
358.94 km
Drive Time
04h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 9:14 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Sun, Apr 19, 1:53 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-19T04:35
Arrive South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 9:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 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
7:42 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
Gibson
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Wilmington
111.4 mi
02h 19m
To South Gastonia
111.7 mi
02h 19m

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
76°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and South Gastonia.

  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

    6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on East Marshville Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway

    18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard

    7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on East Independence Expressway

    5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue on East Independence Boulevard

    1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Take the ramp slight left

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    15.5 mi · 19 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 7: East Gastonia

    858 ft · 29 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East Ozark Avenue

    3206 ft · 1 min · East Ozark Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on East Long Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Long Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn left onto North Chester Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Chester Street

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto South York Street

    1186 ft · 22 sec · South York Street

  29. 29

    Continue on South York Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · South York Road

  30. 30

    Continue on York Highway

    1298 ft · 24 sec · York Highway

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Davis Park Road

    1677 ft · 46 sec · Davis Park Road

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Weston Avenue

    772 ft · 34 sec · Weston Avenue

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Becky Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi · 41%
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 15%
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 8%
NC 27
18.2 mi · 8%
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 6%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi · 6%
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 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.5 mi
197.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gibson
02h 19m from Wilmington
Leave By
7:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Chance Rain Showers near South Gastonia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to South Gastonia?

The road trip is about 223 miles (358.9 km) and usually takes 04h 38m 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?

Gibson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.4 miles from Wilmington and 111.7 miles from South Gastonia.

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

The direct path is about 197.5 miles (317.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.17 one way or $62.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Gibson

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

16 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Dillon

44 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

50 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Florence

64 mi away
805 East Day Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and South Gastonia. Straight-line distance: 197.48 mi (317.82 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
South Gastonia

#2 South Gastonia

Unincorporated community

Population5,312
Coordinates35.2193000, -81.2056300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: South Gastonia (-81.20563, 35.2193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 359 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.87 gal
29.79 L · about $31.17
Round trip
$62.35
15.74 gal · 59.58 L
Estimated CO2
69.9 kg one way
Round trip: 139.9 kg / 308 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $31.17 $62.35
Mid-grade $4.43 $34.86 $69.71
Premium $4.78 $37.60 $75.21
Diesel $5.62 $44.26 $88.52

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 South Gastonia. The current time is 04:35:57.

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.