Origin
Half Moon, NC
Late night in Half Moon on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Half Moon, NC to Wilmington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Half Moon, NC
Rino Adamo
Trip Overview
This 64.7-mile drive from Half Moon to Wilmington, North Carolina, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 31 minutes. Primarily utilizing Wilmington Highway and US 17, with a portion on the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, this route offers a mixed driving experience perfect for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of NC. You won't need to break this journey into multiple days; it's designed for efficient travel, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.4 miles from Half Moon, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 24.9 mi | 34m |
| US 17 | 13.7 mi | 20m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| US 421 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Gum Branch Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Marine Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| Henderson Drive | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 24.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Half Moon, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Ramsey Road
96 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ramsey Road
2
Turn left onto Gum Branch Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Gum Branch Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn right onto Henderson Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Henderson Drive
4
Keep slight right at fork onto Henderson Drive
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Henderson Drive
5
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Marine Boulevard
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 17; NC 210
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NC 140
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
11
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
13
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
14
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
15
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 31-minute duration of this 64.7-mile route, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. The $10 fuel cost suggests you won't need frequent stops for gas. Plan to depart when traffic is lighter, perhaps mid-morning, to enjoy smoother driving. Keep an eye out for the transition onto the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway as you get closer to Wilmington, as this indicates you're nearing your destination. With no specifically recommended stops, this trip is all about getting you to Wilmington efficiently.
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 32.4 miles from Half Moon, NC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.4 miles or 47m 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 17m
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 Half Moon, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Half Moon, NC
This is one driving day of about 64.7 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Half Moon, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Highway for about 24.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Half Moon, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gum Branch Road
Turn left onto Gum Branch Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Henderson Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto Henderson Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
6
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.12 one way
$20.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.06 | $22.13 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.97 | $23.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Late night in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live 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
4 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
1h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "mixed drive" profile for this 64.7-mile journey. While less than half of the route (47%) is on highways, you'll experience some faster stretches, including a significant 24.9-mile segment on Wilmington Highway. The character of the drive will evolve, transitioning between more open road conditions and potentially more local traffic as you approach Wilmington. It's not a constant interstate grind, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting without being overly challenging for a 1-hour, 31-minute trip.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.9 mi on Wilmington Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Gum Branch Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.7 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 (Gum Branch Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (Henderson Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.6 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Half Moon, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
58.6 mi in
|
~1h 21m
About the Cities
Arriving in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Gum Branch Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (Henderson Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.6 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilmington, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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