This 220.3-mile drive from Clinton, NC to Wilmington, NC is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. You'll primarily navigate along Andrew Jackson Highway, US 52, and American Indian Highway, with about 27% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $34 for this trip. Given its duration and the nature of the roads, it's a manageable day trip, but you won't be rushed if you decide to stretch it out. The route stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in North Carolina.
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
110.2 miles from Clinton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
US 52
39.2 mi
54m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
Jake Alexander Boulevard North
7.4 mi
12m
Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi
10m
US 601
6.4 mi
9m
Point Road
4.1 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Point Road
4.1 mi·15 min·Point Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Cherry Hill Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 601
6.4 mi·9 min·US 601
4
Turn right onto US 601
7.4 mi·12 min·Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto Faith Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Faith Road
6
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
7
Continue on South Main Gq Street
1.7 mi·2 min·South Main Gq Street
8
Turn right onto US 52
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 52
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 52
0.7 mi·57 sec·US 52
10
Turn left onto Sides Road
3.6 mi·6 min·Sides Road
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto US 52
8.9 mi·14 min·US 52
12
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South Main Street
13
Turn left onto Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi·10 min·Old Salisbury Road
14
Continue on Salisbury Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Salisbury Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 52
29 mi·39 min·US 52
16
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·26 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
17
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
18
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
19
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
21
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
25
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
27
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
28
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
29
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under five hours, this trip offers flexibility. You could depart mid-morning to avoid early rush hours and still arrive in Wilmington with plenty of afternoon light. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 220.3 miles, perhaps midway through the 91-mile segment on Andrew Jackson Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $34; local roads can sometimes lead to slightly less efficient mileage. Given the turn-heavy nature, staying alert and using GPS is recommended.
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 110.2 miles from Clinton, NC, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91 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 48 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 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 Clinton, 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 Clinton, NC
This is one driving day of about 220.3 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Clinton, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 112.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.9 mi into trip|~26m in|US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Turn right onto US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
22.2 mi into trip|~45m in|US 52
Turn right onto US 52
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23.2 mi into trip|~47m in|Sides Road
Turn left onto Sides Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
87 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
6
112.6 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
$34.45 one way
$68.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.67
$75.34
premium
$4.70
$40.77
$81.55
diesel
$5.61
$48.64
$97.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.84
$14.10
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clinton, NC
Morning
in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 1:12PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 12:59PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
57°F
Rockingham, NC
110 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
38 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 55m 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 205.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. While 27% of the route utilizes highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 91 miles along Andrew Jackson Highway. This means you'll experience a more varied driving experience, with frequent changes in speed and direction as you pass through various communities.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in near US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North.
Driving Effort6/10
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 220.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 10.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (Sides Road): 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 55m. Total distance: 220.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. 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.
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: at 10.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (Sides Road): 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
