Crossing North Carolina from Forest City to Wilmington is a 262.4-mile journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 25 minutes. While it is technically feasible to complete this in one day, the route’s character suggests you should prepare for a significant amount of time behind the wheel. You will primarily navigate via the Andrew Jackson Highway, the American Indian Highway, and the Monroe Expressway to reach the coast. Budgeting approximately $42 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you may find that a single day feels quite full, though it is manageable if you are comfortable with a steady pace. Expect to transition from the inland hills of the Southeast toward the coastal region by the time you arrive.
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
131.2 miles from Forest City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
92.9 mi
1h 53m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi
21m
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi
21m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
West Dixon Boulevard
12.4 mi
17m
Solon David Smart Memorial Highway
11.7 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Cherry Mountain Street
54 ft·3 sec·Cherry Mountain Street
2
Turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A
0.2 mi·53 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 221A
1.4 mi·3 min·South Broadway Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
5
Merge onto US 74
12 mi·13 min·Solon David Smart Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 74
12 mi·17 min·West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi·2 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
8
Continue on US 74
6.8 mi·7 min·Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·55 sec
Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 85
18 mi·21 min·Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 85
8.5 mi·10 min·Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 36Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
386 ft·11 sec
Toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America StadiumUse the left / right lanes.
15
Merge onto NC 16
0.3 mi·21 sec·Brookshire Boulevard
16
Continue on NC 16
3.6 mi·5 min·Brookshire Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 2BToward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence BoulevardUse the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Merge onto US 74; NC 27
3.3 mi·4 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft·4 sec·East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
20
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi·2 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·3 min·East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi·6 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
19 mi·21 min·Monroe Expressway
Exit 255Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, WilmingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi·27 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·West Marshville Boulevard
26
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
27
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·9 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
29
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
30
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
31
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
33
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
35
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
37
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
38
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
39
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
40
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
41
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high, plan for at least one well-timed stop during your 5-hour and 25-minute trek. Since this is a turn-heavy route, departing early in the morning allows you to handle the more technical local segments during daylight hours when visibility is best. You have the flexibility to power through in one day, but don't hesitate to pull over if the winding roads begin to wear you down. Given the reliance on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, your fuel efficiency may vary, so keep that $42 estimate in mind as a baseline. Use the 92.9-mile stretch on the Andrew Jackson Highway as your primary checkpoint to gauge your progress 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 131.2 miles from Forest City, NC, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 58 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.2 miles or 2h 52m 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 27m
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 Forest City, 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 Forest City, NC
This is one driving day of about 262.4 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Forest City, 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 92.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.7 and 78.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
34.7 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
8
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36
Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Ch...
9
61.8 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brooksh...
8
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 2B
Toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Bou...
9
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilm...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.03 one way
$82.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$44.87
$89.73
premium
$4.70
$48.56
$97.13
diesel
$5.61
$57.93
$115.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.7
0
$27.55
$12.60
Efficient EV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
EV Truck/SUV
105
1
$36.74
$16.79
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 17, 2026
Origin
Forest City, NC
Night
in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Night
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
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
19 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
5h 25m 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 244.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is far from a monotonous interstate grind, as only 16% of the journey is spent on major highways. You will experience a turn-heavy, local-road profile that demands your full attention rather than cruise-control complacency. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 92.9-mile segment along the Andrew Jackson Highway. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, the drive feels tactile and constantly changing compared to a straight interstate shot. Be prepared to shift gears frequently as you navigate the winding sections that define this connection between Forest City and Wilmington.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 262.4 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: at 34.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,015 ft36 ft
Total Climb
429 ft
Total Descent
1,408 ft
Highest Point
1,015 ft
~32.8 mi in
Elevation Range
979 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Forest City, NC and Wilmington, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Charlotte and Bank Of America Stadium.
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 5h 25m. Total distance: 262.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 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 34.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wilmington, NC before the return drive.
