How far is Wilmington, NC from Waynesville, NC?
The driving distance from Wilmington, NC to Waynesville, NC is about 342.3 miles (550.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 298.9 miles (481.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 02m 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 07h 01m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in and county seat of Union County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Wilmington and Waynesville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington and Waynesville.
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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
1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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20
Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway
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21
Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
2.5 mi · 4 min
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22
Take the ramp slight left
1678 ft · 41 sec
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23
Merge slight left
24.1 mi · 30 min
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24
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
3242 ft · 50 sec
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25
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
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26
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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27
Continue on East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard
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28
Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard
15.7 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard
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29
Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18.3 mi · 20 min · Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
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30
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
34.3 mi · 41 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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31
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
18.4 mi · 23 min
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32
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
5.8 mi · 8 min
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33
Take the exit slight right toward US 276: Waynesville, Brevard
875 ft · 21 sec
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34
Turn right onto Russ Avenue
1.4 km · 2 min · Russ Avenue
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35
Continue on Walnut Street
684 ft · 14 sec · Walnut Street
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36
Continue on Walnut Street
655 ft · 16 sec · Walnut Street
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37
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street
2171 ft · 45 sec · North Main Street
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38
Turn right
12 m · 3 sec
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Wilmington and Waynesville.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Waynesville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Wilmington to Waynesville?
The road trip is about 342.3 miles (550.9 km) and usually takes 07h 01m 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?
Monroe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 170.9 miles from Wilmington and 171.3 miles from Waynesville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 298.9 miles (481.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 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 $47.85 one way or $95.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wilmington and Mostly Sunny near Waynesville.
Stop Ideas Near Monroe
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 Monroe.
Charlotte
Kannapolis
Gastonia
Salisbury
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Wilmington and Waynesville. Straight-line distance: 298.95 mi (481.12 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 Waynesville
City in North Carolina
| Population | 10,557 |
| Coordinates | 35.4887100, -82.9887500 |
| Altitude | 837 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waynesville (-82.98875, 35.48871)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 551 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $47.85 | $95.70 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $53.50 | $107.00 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $57.72 | $115.44 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $67.94 | $135.88 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.