McDowell County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Asheville, NC to Wilson, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
296.2 mi
477 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 30m
★
6 AM
5h 44m
8 AM
6h 10m
10 AM
5h 53m
12 PM
5h 50m
3 PM
5h 54m
5 PM
6h 9m
8 PM
5h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Asheville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Wilson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Asheville, NC to Wilson, NC is 296.2 miles and takes about 5h 43m via I 40 and US 264, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those who want to reach their destination efficiently without extensive stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.1 miles from Asheville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 234.4 mi | 4h 29m |
| US 264 | 22.3 mi | 23m |
| I 87 | 16.8 mi | 17m |
| I 440 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Billy Graham Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Downing Street Southwest | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Downing Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 234.4 mi, about 4h 29m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 99 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,823 veh/hr typical · worst 3,435
Quietest
2 AM
~181 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Asheville, NC and Wilson, NC.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Marcellus Street
130 ft
·
8 sec
·
Marcellus Street
3
Turn right onto US 25
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Merrimon Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 240; US 70; US 74A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 240
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
7
Merge onto I 40
158 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
42 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
30 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Wade Avenue
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
14
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 87; US 64; US 264
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 264
22 mi
·
23 min
·
US 264
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 22
19
Keep slight right at fork
225 ft
·
5 sec
20
Turn straight onto Downing Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Downing Road
21
Continue on Downing Street Southwest
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Downing Street Southwest
22
Turn straight onto Goldsboro Street Southwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Goldsboro Street Southwest
23
At end of road, turn right onto Hines Street South
36 ft
·
0 sec
·
Hines Street South
24
Arrive at destination
Hines Street South
Trip Plan
For this 5h 43m drive, leaving Asheville in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but plan for at least one break to stretch. The longest continuous stretch is 234.4 miles on I 40, so consider stopping before or after that segment. Fuel costs are estimated at $45, so ensure your tank is full before departing Asheville, as services can be more spread out on certain highway stretches. The transition from I 40 to US 264 will mark a shift from high-speed interstate to potentially slower surface roads.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.1 miles from Asheville, NC, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilson, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Asheville, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Asheville, NC
This is one driving day of about 296.2 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Asheville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 234.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Asheville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 234.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Davie County, I-40 Eastbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Davie County, I-40 Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Marion Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Marion Rest Area - Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
I-40 Catawba Rest Area Westbound MM 136
0.2 mi from route
I-40 Catawba Rest Area Eastbound MM 136
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 252.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
162.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
209.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
239.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
|
SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
252.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.05 one way
$94.11 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $51.31 | $102.62 |
| premium | $4.78 | $55.74 | $111.48 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $72.06 | $144.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.10 | $14.22 |
| Efficient EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.92 | $11.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.5 | 1 | $41.47 | $18.96 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Asheville, NC
Evening in Asheville on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSE 1 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 6:28AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 5:36AM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Wilson, NC
Evening in Wilson on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
N 14 to 17 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 6:28AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 5:36AM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 43m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway driving, with 97% of the 296.2 miles on major roads like I 40 and US 264. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 234.4 miles on I 40, so expect consistent cruising speeds for a long duration. The highway portion largely concludes around the point where US 264 begins, transitioning you to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Keep an eye out for frequent exits on the interstate segments.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 264. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 296.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,132 ft
109 ft
Total Climb
280 ft
Total Descent
2,302 ft
Highest Point
2,132 ft
Elevation Range
2,022 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Asheville, NC and Wilson, NC, road signs point toward Martinsville and Greenville.
Martinsville
162.9 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via I 40
Greenville
252.3 mi in
|
~4h 53m
About the Cities
Starting in Asheville, NC
Full guide →Founded 1797
The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.
Top landmarks
- • Biltmore Estate — historic house museum and tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina, Unite...
- • Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville — minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in Asheville, North Carolina
- • The Omni Grove Park Inn — Historic hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Arriving in Wilson, NC
Full guide →Founded 1849
Wilson is a city in North Carolina that is home to a diverse collection of historic homes in its center city along beautiful tree-lined streets. Some say it has North Carolina's finest collection of bungalows. Wilson's arts scene is growing and is home to the Theater of the American South.
Top landmarks
- • Branch Banking & Trust Company Building — historic building in Wilson, North Carolina, USA
- • Wilson Central Business-Tobacco Warehouse Historic District — human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 296.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wilson, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wilson, NC before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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