Origin
Hampstead, NC
Morning in Hampstead on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hampstead, NC to Wilmington, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
24.2 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hampstead, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Hampstead to Wilmington, you can expect a very straightforward 24.2-mile journey. This highway-focused drive typically takes about 30 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 17, US 421, and the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, the transit is both efficient and budget-friendly. Both locations are situated in the Southeast region of North Carolina, ensuring a consistent local environment throughout your commute. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you where you need to go without the fatigue of a long-distance haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| US 17 | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| US 421 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Highway East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
— 12.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampstead, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 17; NC 210
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on NC 140
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
4
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
6
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
7
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
8
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17; NC 210
Depart onto US 17; NC 210
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
18 mi into trip
|
~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
18.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
22.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
22.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 17; US 76; US 421 / Ocean Highway East
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421 / Ocean Highway East
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.78 one way
$7.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.14 | $8.28 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.34 | $10.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Morning in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
30m 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 high-speed experience, as 94% of this route consists of highway travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on major thoroughfares, including a significant 12.4-mile uninterrupted stretch along the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. Because the road is designed for efficiency, the drive feels consistent and focused rather than winding or technical. You can rely on these primary arteries to maintain a steady pace as you transition between these two Southeast towns. This is a classic highway-heavy trek that prioritizes speed and directness over local detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway and US 17. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17; NC 210.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17; NC 210): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.3 miles (US 421): 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 Hampstead, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
18 mi in
|
~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 30m. Total distance: 24.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 17; NC 210): Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.3 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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