Origin
Holly Ridge, NC
Afternoon in Holly Ridge on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Holly Ridge, 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
49m
Distance
36.8 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Holly Ridge, NC
Budget Bizar
Trip Overview
This straightforward 36.8-mile drive from Holly Ridge to Wilmington, North Carolina, should take you about 49 minutes to complete. It's an easy day trip, so no need to plan for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, making it an economical option. You'll spend most of your time on highways, with a 68% highway share, indicating a focus on efficient travel. This route is a good choice if you're looking for a quick and direct connection between these two Southeast locations without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| Wilmington Highway | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| US 17 | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| 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 Holly Ridge, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 17
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on NC 140
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
5
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
7
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
8
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
9
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Holly Ridge, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.5 — 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 / Wilmington Highway
Depart onto US 17 / Wilmington Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
30.7 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
30.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
34.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
35.5 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
$5.75 one way
$11.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.81 | $13.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.12 | $16.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
64°F
Kirkland, NC
18 mi in
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
40 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
49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, making up 68% of the total mileage. You can expect stretches of efficient travel, including a continuous 12.4-mile segment on the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. While the primary roads include Wilmington Highway and US 17, the overall profile suggests a consistent pace rather than winding, scenic byways. The character is practical and direct, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, so prepare for a straightforward driving experience.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 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 Wilmington Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 / Wilmington Highway.
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 49m 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 / Wilmington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
61 ft
22 ft
Total Climb
36 ft
Total Descent
61 ft
Highest Point
61 ft
~2.6 mi in
Elevation Range
39 ft
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 Holly Ridge, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
30.7 mi in
|
~40m
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 49m. Total distance: 36.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). 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 / Wilmington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Wilmington, NC
More from Holly Ridge, NC
More trips to Wilmington, NC
Explore more options from Holly Ridge, NC or browse trips ending in Wilmington, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.