How far is Wilmington, NC from Surf City, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Surf City, NC is about 36.7 miles (59.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 00h 52m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Township in New Hanover County, North Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Surf City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Surf City.
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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
1.3 km · 1 min
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4
Take the exit slight right
4.3 mi · 6 min
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5
Take the exit right toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
1888 ft · 46 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.8 mi · 13 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
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7
Continue on Market Street
9.1 mi · 14 min · Market Street
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8
Continue straight
5.4 mi · 7 min
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9
Turn right
2.8 mi · 5 min
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10
Turn right onto Roland Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Roland Avenue
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11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
35 m · 2 sec
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12
Exit the roundabout
1.3 km · 2 min
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13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North New River Drive
69 m · 5 sec · North New River Drive
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14
Exit the roundabout onto North New River Drive
38 m · 3 sec · North New River Drive
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15
Continue on North New River Drive
62 m · 10 sec · North New River Drive
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16
Turn left onto Roland Avenue
33 m · 12 sec · Roland Avenue
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17
Continue on Roland Avenue
23 m · 2 sec · Roland Avenue
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Roland Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Surf City.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.8 mi · 00h 13m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Surf City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Surf City?
The road trip is about 36.7 miles (59.1 km) and usually takes 00h 52m 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?
Kirkland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.4 miles from Wilmington and 18.4 miles from Surf City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 10 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 4:46 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.15 one way or $10.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Surf City.
Stop Ideas Near Kirkland
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Founders Park
Lanier Parking
Leland Police-Animal Control
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kirkland.
Wilmington, NC
Jacksonville, NC
Havelock, NC
Kinston, NC
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Surf City. Straight-line distance: 26.66 mi (42.91 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 Surf City
Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey
| Population | 2,532 |
| Coordinates | 34.4271100, -77.5460800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
End: Surf City (-77.54608, 34.42711)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 59 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $5.15 | $10.30 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $5.76 | $11.52 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $6.21 | $12.42 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.