Hudson, NC to Wilmington, NC is 266.1 miles and takes about 5h 30m via Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across North Carolina, moving from the western part of the state towards the coast. Given that it's a single-day drive, it's a solid option if you're looking to get to your destination efficiently without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.
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
133.1 miles from Hudson, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
Hickory Boulevard
44.1 mi
55m
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
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
10.2 mi
12m
Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,186 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~653 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hudson, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Central Street
24 ft·3 sec·Central Street
2
Turn uturn onto US 321A
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto Cedar Valley Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cedar Valley Road
4
Continue on Pine Mountain Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pine Mountain Road
5
Turn right onto US 321
44 mi·55 min·Hickory Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 321
0.4 mi·41 sec·North Chester Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 85 North: Charlotte
8
Merge onto I 85
10 mi·12 min·Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 85
8.5 mi·10 min·Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 36Toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
11
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.
12
Merge onto NC 16
0.3 mi·21 sec·Brookshire Boulevard
13
Continue on NC 16
3.6 mi·5 min·Brookshire Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 2BToward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence BoulevardUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Merge onto US 74; NC 27
3.3 mi·4 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft·4 sec·East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
17
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi·2 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·3 min·East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi·6 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
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.
21
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi·27 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·West Marshville Boulevard
23
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
24
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·9 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
26
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
27
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
28
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
30
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
32
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
34
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
36
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
37
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
38
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Hudson, NC, early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight, especially since the total travel time is around 5 hours and 30 minutes. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks; consider a mid-morning or early afternoon pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $43, and refueling options might be more spaced out on the surface road sections. The longest continuous stretch is 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment.
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 133.1 miles from Hudson, NC, or about 2h 54m 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 59 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.1 miles or 2h 54m 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 30m
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 Hudson, 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 Hudson, NC
This is one driving day of about 266.1 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Hudson, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 321A / Main Street
Turn uturn onto US 321A / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
65.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
$41.59 one way
$83.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.35
$45.55
$91.10
premium
$4.72
$49.45
$98.90
diesel
$6.28
$65.75
$131.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.8
0
$27.94
$12.77
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
EV Truck/SUV
106.4
1
$37.25
$17.03
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Hudson, NC
Morning
in Hudson on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 19 at 2:38AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
N 12 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 19 at 2:38AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
48°F
Monroe, NC
133 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
5h 30m 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
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 247.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 266.1 miles with a significant portion on surface roads, indicated by only a 16% highway share. You'll encounter a long stretch of 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, offering a more continuous cruise before transitioning to other main roads like Hickory Boulevard and American Indian Highway. Expect frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas rather than high-speed highway driving.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 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?
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 early in the drive near US 321A / Main Street.
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 17 significant decision points across 266.1 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: near the start (US 321A / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 65.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,262 ft28 ft
Total Climb
219 ft
Total Descent
1,444 ft
Highest Point
1,262 ft
Elevation Range
1,233 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hudson, 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.
Top landmarks
•USS North Carolina — 1940 North Carolina-class battleship moored in Wilmington, North Carolina
•Fort Fisher — Confederate fort in Wilmington, North Carolina
•Bellamy Mansion — mansion in Wilmington, North Carolina, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 266.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m 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: near the start (US 321A / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 65.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.5 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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 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.
