Origin
Cary, NC
Morning in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cary, NC to Wilmington, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
138.7 mi
223 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
Cary, NC to Wilmington, NC is 138.7 miles and takes about 2h 37m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, making it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. With 93% of the drive on highways, expect a predominantly fast-paced travel experience. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, offering a quick connection between inland areas and the coast without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.4 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 109.4 mi | 1h 57m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Market Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| North College Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Wooster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on North Academy Street
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Academy Street
2
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
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
Given the 2h 37m duration, this is a comfortable one-day drive. Aim to depart Cary in the morning to allow ample time for your destination upon arrival in Wilmington. You'll cover 138.7 miles with a projected fuel cost of $22, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Cary. There's only one recommended stop, so you can be flexible with timing but keep an eye on the exit density as you get closer to the coast.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.4 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
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 Cary, 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 Cary, NC
This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cary, 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 109.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.4 miles from Cary, 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 109.4 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.7 — 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
|
Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
6
20.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.69 one way
$43.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.72 | $47.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.67 | $51.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.62 | $61.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.56 | $6.66 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.14 | $5.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.42 | $8.88 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Morning in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
2h 37m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-oriented, with 93% of the 138.7 miles on major freeways like I 40. You'll experience a longest stretch of 109.4 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and potential traffic as you approach the coastal destination.
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: 109.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 138.7 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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Cary, NC
Full guide →Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital, but has developed some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
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 2h 37m. Total distance: 138.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m 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 109.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Wilmington, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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