This 233.5-mile drive from Clemmons to Wilmington, North Carolina, is a feasible one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 36 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of highways, with about 45% of your journey on interstate roads. Budget approximately $37 for fuel, and plan for at least one stop along the way. This route offers a straightforward path across the Southeast region, making it a convenient option for those looking to travel between these two North Carolina cities without needing an overnight stay.
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
116.7 miles from Clemmons, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
89 mi
1h 39m
Andrew Jackson Highway
70.1 mi
1h 24m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi
16m
I 40
11.7 mi
13m
US 220
4.8 mi
6m
Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi
5m
Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 89 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clemmons, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 158
19 ft·4 sec·Clemmons Road
2
Turn right onto Lewisville Clemmons Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Lewisville Clemmons Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 40 EastUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 40
12 mi·13 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto I 74
89 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 74
Exit 196Toward I 74 East: High PointUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 220
4.8 mi·6 min·US 220
Exit 22Toward US 220 South: RockinghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
2.5 mi·4 min·West Broad Avenue
8
Continue on US 74 BUS
3.5 mi·5 min·Hamlet Avenue
9
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
466 ft·11 sec·Raleigh Street
10
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
0.3 mi·41 sec·Spring Street
11
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
13 mi·16 min·East Hamlet Avenue
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
14
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
16
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
17
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this roughly 4.5-hour drive, an early morning departure from Clemmons is recommended to maximize your day in Wilmington. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 89-mile stretch on I-74, to avoid needing an unexpected stop. The estimated fuel cost of $37 makes this an economical trip, so focus on enjoying the changing scenery as you head toward the coast.
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 116.7 miles from Clemmons, NC, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.7 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
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 Clemmons, 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 Clemmons, NC
This is one driving day of about 233.5 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Clemmons, 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 74 for about 89 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 125.8 — 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|Lewisville Clemmons Road
Turn right onto Lewisville Clemmons Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 40 East
7
12.8 mi into trip|~16m in|I 74
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 East: High Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 196
Toward I 74 East: High Point
7
101.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
6
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.51 one way
$73.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$39.92
$79.85
premium
$4.70
$43.22
$86.43
diesel
$5.61
$51.55
$103.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.52
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.69
$14.94
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Clemmons, NC
Morning
in Clemmons on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Rockingham, NC
117 mi in
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
21 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
4h 36m 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.
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 217.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 45% of the miles spent on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 89 miles on I-74, providing a period of consistent highway travel. As you progress, the drive will transition between these faster highway sections and other roadways like Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, offering some variety. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and moments of more local road driving.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lewisville Clemmons Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 233.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Lewisville Clemmons Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (I 74): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 233.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (Lewisville Clemmons Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (I 74): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
