How far is Wilmington, NC from Spring Lake, NC?

The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Spring Lake, NC is about 98.9 miles (159.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 87.4 miles (140.7 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
98.9 mi
02h 16m
Flight
87.46 mi
140.75 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
87.46 mi
Kilometers
140.75 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.9 mi
Kilometers
159.17 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 Spring Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 7:11 AM EDT
Return by in Wilmington
Thu, Apr 23, 9:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wilmington
2026-04-23T04:55
Arrive Spring Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 7:11 AM 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
Elizabethtown
NC

City in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Wilmington
49.5 mi
01h 08m
To Spring Lake
49.5 mi
01h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Spring Lake.

  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

    13.6 mi · 18 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    72.2 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 24, NC 87: Bragg Boulevard

    689 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Bragg Boulevard

    1104 ft · 29 sec · Bragg Boulevard

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Murchison Road

    8.6 mi · 13 min · Murchison Road

  9. 9

    Continue on South Bragg Boulevard

    2475 ft · 49 sec · South Bragg Boulevard

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Lillington Highway

    9 m · 1 sec · Lillington Highway

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lillington Highway

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
85.8 mi · 87%
Murchison Road
8.62 mi · 9%
South Bragg Boulevard
0.47 mi
Bragg Boulevard
0.21 mi
South 3rd Street
0.17 mi
NC 24
0.13 mi
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Take the exit slight right

72.2 mi · 01h 37m

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
+11.5 mi
87.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabethtown
01h 08m from Wilmington
Leave By
1:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wilmington and Sunny near Spring Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Spring Lake?

The road trip is about 98.9 miles (159.2 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?

Elizabethtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.5 miles from Wilmington and 49.5 miles from Spring Lake.

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

The direct path is about 87.4 miles (140.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.5 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 $13.82 one way or $27.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Sunny near Spring Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Elizabethtown

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

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

RAIL

Fayetteville

54 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Dillon

74 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
BUS

Wilmington, NC

79 mi away
505 Cando St
RAIL

Southern Pines

94 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Spring Lake. Straight-line distance: 87.46 mi (140.75 km).

Wilmington

#1 Wilmington

The largest city in the state of North Carolina.

Population124,794
Coordinates34.2257300, -77.9447100
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Spring Lake

Borough of New Jersey

Population11,980
Coordinates35.1679400, -78.9728100
Altitude84
CountryUnited States
Start: Wilmington (-77.94471, 34.22573)
End: Spring Lake (-78.97281, 35.16794)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 159 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.49 gal
13.21 L · about $13.82
Round trip
$27.65
6.98 gal · 26.42 L
Estimated CO2
31 kg one way
Round trip: 62 kg / 137 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $13.82 $27.65
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.46 $30.91
Premium $4.78 $16.68 $33.35
Diesel $5.62 $19.63 $39.26

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

There is no time difference between Wilmington and Spring Lake. The current time is 04:55:26.

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.