This 122.4-mile drive from Clayton, NC, to Wilmington, NC, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 23 minutes. Given its manageable length and focus on major roadways, it's perfectly suited for a single-day trip, saving you the need for an overnight stop. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for a quick transit between these two North Carolina locations within the Southeast region. Budget approximately $19 for fuel, and anticipate a largely uninterrupted drive. This route offers a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours or time commitments.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.2 miles from Clayton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
107.3 mi
1h 55m
Veterans Parkway
6.4 mi
11m
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
South 16th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on North Lombard Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Lombard Street
2
Continue on Veterans Parkway
6.4 mi·11 min·Veterans Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Benson
4
Merge onto I 40
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
5
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
6
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
7
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·North Kerr Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi·4 min·Market Street
9
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 16th Street
10
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi·2 min·Wooster Street
11
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft·2 sec·South 3rd Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this efficient 2-hour and 23-minute drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your day in Wilmington. With only 122.4 miles to cover and a highway share of 94%, you won't need to plan for frequent stops; however, it's wise to take advantage of any services along the 107.3-mile stretch of I-40 if needed. The estimated fuel cost is around $19, so ensure your tank is adequately full before departing Clayton. Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best, but be mindful of Wilmington's local traffic as you approach Market Street.
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 61.2 miles from Clayton, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.2 miles or 1h 12m 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 54m
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 Clayton, 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 Clayton, NC
This is one driving day of about 122.4 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Clayton, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 121.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
6.9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East: Benson
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40 East: Benson
5
8.1 mi into trip|~14m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
3
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|North Kerr Avenue
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 17 Business / Market Street
Turn right onto US 17 Business / Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
121.4 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Turn right onto US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.14 one way
$38.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.93
$41.86
premium
$4.70
$22.65
$45.31
diesel
$5.61
$27.02
$54.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Efficient EV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
EV Truck/SUV
49
0
$17.14
$7.83
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Clayton, NC
Morning
in Clayton on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Clear
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive 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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 105.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 94% of this 122.4-mile trip. The primary arteries you'll utilize include I-40 and Veterans Parkway, leading into Market Street. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 107.3 miles on I-40. This indicates a drive characterized by consistent speed and minimal local road navigation for the bulk of your journey. While the scenery might be uniform for much of the way, the efficiency of the interstate system makes for a predictable and rapid transit.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Veterans Parkway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clayton, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 23m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.7 miles (North Kerr Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.7 miles (North Kerr Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilmington, NC before heading back.
