Origin
Benson, NC
Late night in Benson on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benson, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
101.6 mi
163 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 101.6-mile drive from Benson to Wilmington, North Carolina, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under two hours, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated around $16, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes major highways, offering a direct path through the Southeast region of North Carolina. Given its short duration and highway focus, it doesn't necessitate an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Benson, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 92.1 mi | 1h 39m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Wooster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Kerr Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| I 95 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| South 16th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 92.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benson, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 301; NC 242
69 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Wall Street
2
Turn right onto West Lambert Drive
186 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Lambert Drive
3
Turn right onto North Ellis Drive
144 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Ellis Drive
4
Turn left onto NC 50; NC 242
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto I 95
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 95
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
9
Merge onto I 40
92 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
I 40
10
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
11
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
12
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kerr Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
14
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 16th Street
15
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Wooster Street
16
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 57-minute drive, you have the advantage of flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic as you enter Wilmington. Since the longest stretch is 92.1 miles on I-40, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before getting on that long segment. The $16 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always keep an eye on your gauge. A practical tip: take advantage of the urban roads like Market Street and North College Road to familiarize yourself with the approach to Wilmington, as they lead directly into the city.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Benson, NC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.1 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilmington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benson, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benson, NC
This is one driving day of about 101.6 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Benson, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 92.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.8 miles from Benson, 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 92.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Lambert Drive
Turn right onto West Lambert Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Ellis Drive
Turn right onto North Ellis Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street
Turn left onto NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
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 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.89 one way
$31.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.37 | $34.74 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.80 | $37.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.43 | $44.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.22 | $6.50 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Late night in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 93% of this 101.6-mile journey, primarily on I-40. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 92.1 miles on I-40, which means long periods of consistent driving. While the majority is interstate, the final portion will transition to Market Street and North College Road as you approach Wilmington. This shift from high-speed highway to more urban arterial roads marks the change in scenery and driving pace.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Market Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Lambert Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lambert Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Ellis Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →Wilmington is a city in the southeastern part of North Carolina. It is the county seat of New Hanover County, and home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Memorial, the Cape Fear Museum, Airlie Gardens, and a large historic district. It is convenient to nearby beaches, and is a relatively short drive from the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, SC, and the I-95 corridor.
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 1h 57m. Total distance: 101.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lambert Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (North Ellis Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 242 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilmington, NC before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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