Origin
Chadbourn, NC
Late night in Chadbourn on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chadbourn, 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 9m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chadbourn, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Chadbourn to Wilmington, you are looking at a straightforward 54.3-mile journey that typically takes about 55 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance. You will primarily navigate via South Brown Street, Joe Brown Highway North, and the Andrew Jackson Highway to reach the coast. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, it is a very budget-friendly way to move between these two Southeast North Carolina towns. Because the entire trip stays within the same region, you won't experience significant shifts in landscape, making it a reliable and predictable commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 48 mi | 1h |
| Ocean Highway East | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| US 76 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| South Brown Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Joe Brown Highway North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Railroad Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 48 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chadbourn, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on West Railroad Avenue
149 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto NC 410
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Brown Street
3
Continue on US 74 Business; US 76 Business; NC 130; NC 410
489 ft
·
11 sec
·
Joe Brown Highway North
4
Turn right onto US 76
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 76
5
Merge onto US 74; US 76
48 mi
·
1 hr
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
7
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
8
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Chadbourn, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 410 / South Brown Street
Turn left onto NC 410 / South Brown Street
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 76
Turn right onto US 76
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Merge onto US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.28 | $18.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.05 | $20.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 9m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend the entire 54.3 miles navigating local roads and secondary highways. This setup means you should be prepared for frequent turns and a more hands-on driving experience compared to a high-speed freeway trek. The character of the road remains consistent throughout the duration of the trip, requiring your full attention as you transition between the various local thoroughfares. It is a practical, functional route that prioritizes direct local navigation over high-speed connectivity.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 410 / South Brown Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chadbourn, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 1h 9m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 410 / South Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 76): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 9m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. 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 (NC 410 / South Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 76): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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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