How far is Wilmington, NC from Swannanoa, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Swannanoa, NC is about 313.4 miles (504.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 269.6 miles (433.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 52m 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 06h 26m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Swannanoa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Swannanoa.
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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
71.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Swannanoa
982 ft · 26 sec
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31
Turn right onto Patton Cove Road
1717 ft · 45 sec · Patton Cove Road
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32
At the end of the road, turn right onto West State Street
141 m · 9 sec · West State Street
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33
Turn right onto Asheville Road
93 m · 11 sec · Asheville Road
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34
Continue on Asheville Road
938 ft · 33 sec · Asheville Road
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35
Turn right onto Rider Lane
26 m · 6 sec · Rider Lane
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Rider Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Swannanoa.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Conover Boulevard East
Merge slight left
71.1 mi · 01h 21m
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Wilmington and Patchy Fog near Swannanoa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Swannanoa?
The road trip is about 313.4 miles (504.3 km) and usually takes 06h 26m 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?
Peachland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.5 miles from Wilmington and 156.8 miles from Swannanoa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 269.6 miles (433.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.8 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 $43.81 one way or $87.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Wilmington and Patchy Fog near Swannanoa.
Stop Ideas Near Peachland
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 Peachland.
Hamlet
Charlotte
Kannapolis
Salisbury
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Swannanoa. Straight-line distance: 269.61 mi (433.89 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 Swannanoa
Township in Buncombe County, North Carolina
| Population | 4,576 |
| Coordinates | 35.5978900, -82.3998400 |
| Altitude | 670 |
| Country | United States |
End: Swannanoa (-82.39984, 35.59789)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 504 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $43.81 | $87.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $48.98 | $97.97 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $52.84 | $105.69 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $62.20 | $124.40 |
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 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.