Spanning 219.7 miles across North Carolina, this trip from Gastonia to Wilmington typically takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Andrew Jackson Highway, the American Indian Highway, and the Monroe Expressway. Budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the journey, which is manageable as a single-day excursion. Because the route is turn-heavy, you should plan for a focused drive rather than a mindless cruise. While you only need one stop to complete the trek comfortably, having the flexibility to stretch your legs will make the transition from the Southeast interior to the coast much more enjoyable.
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
109.9 miles from Gastonia, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi
21m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
10m
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
8.2 mi
10m
East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gastonia, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 29; US 74; NC 274
0.5 mi·56 sec·West Franklin Boulevard
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·South Broad Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto NC 7
0.7 mi·1 min·East Long Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on NC 7
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Ozark Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 85 North
6
Merge onto I 85
8.2 mi·10 min·Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 85
8.5 mi·10 min·Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 36Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
9
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.
10
Merge onto NC 16
0.3 mi·21 sec·Brookshire Boulevard
11
Continue on NC 16
3.6 mi·5 min·Brookshire Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 2BToward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence BoulevardUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Merge onto US 74; NC 27
3.3 mi·4 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft·4 sec·East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
15
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi·2 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·3 min·East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi·6 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
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.
19
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi·27 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·West Marshville Boulevard
21
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
22
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·9 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
24
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
25
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
26
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
28
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
32
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
34
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
35
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
36
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 31-minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid midday congestion on local roads. Since the route requires a high degree of focus, schedule your single recommended stop around the midway point to recharge. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $35 estimate can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local road idling. Because this drive is primarily local rather than highway-based, check your navigation frequently before starting to ensure you are comfortable with the specific turns on the Andrew Jackson and American Indian Highways. This approach provides the best balance between efficiency and a stress-free arrival in Wilmington.
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 109.9 miles from Gastonia, NC, or about 2h 22m 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 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h 22m 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 42m
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 Gastonia, 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 Gastonia, NC
This is one driving day of about 219.7 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Gastonia, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 35.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|NC 7 / East Long Avenue
Turn right onto NC 7 / East Long Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
18.9 mi into trip|~24m 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
19.1 mi into trip|~25m 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
23.1 mi into trip|~30m 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
35.9 mi into trip|~48m 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
$34.36 one way
$68.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.57
$75.13
premium
$4.70
$40.66
$81.32
diesel
$5.61
$48.51
$97.01
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: 76.9 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
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
Efficient EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.79
EV Truck/SUV
87.9
1
$30.76
$14.06
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 13, 2026
Origin
Gastonia, NC
Night
in Gastonia on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Night
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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 31m 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 204.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 19% of this route consists of highways, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Andrew Jackson Highway, where you will cover 91 miles before needing to adjust your route. The character of the drive shifts significantly as you move away from the highway segments, requiring you to navigate turns frequently. It is not an interstate grind, so prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that reflects the local geography of the region.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 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?
9/10
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 0.7 miles in near NC 7 / East Long Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 219.7 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 0.7 miles (NC 7 / East Long Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
803 ft36 ft
Total Climb
46 ft
Total Descent
813 ft
Highest Point
803 ft
Elevation Range
767 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gastonia, NC and Wilmington, NC, road signs point toward 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 4h 31m. Total distance: 219.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m 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 0.7 miles (NC 7 / East Long Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.1 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
