Traveling from Jacksonville to Boiling Spring Lakes covers 77 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region of North Carolina. By utilizing the Wilmington Highway, the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, and US 17, you benefit from a straightforward path between these two coastal-area communities. Whether you are heading out for a quick weekend getaway or a necessary commute, the logistics are simple and easy to manage.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wilmington Highway
24.9 mi
34m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
24.9 mi
26m
US 17
13.7 mi
20m
NC 87
8.1 mi
11m
Ocean Highway East
3.9 mi
5m
Marine Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
George II Highway
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 24.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Boiling Spring Lakes, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Marine Boulevard
2
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business
25 mi·34 min·Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 17; NC 210
5.6 mi·7 min·US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi·12 min·US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on NC 140
25 mi·26 min·John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle BeachUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 17
3.9 mi·5 min·Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto NC 87
8.1 mi·11 min·NC 87
9
Arrive at destination
NC 87
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With a total travel time under two hours, you can comfortably complete the drive without needing to factor in mandatory rest stops. However, it is wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Jacksonville, as you will want to maintain that estimated $12 budget throughout the 77-mile transit. Given the heavy reliance on US 17 and the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain a smooth, uninterrupted flow. Prioritize a departure that lets you enjoy the drive at a relaxed pace rather than rushing through these main arterial roads.
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 38.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 55m 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 55m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boiling Spring Lakes, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jacksonville, NC
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Jacksonville, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 68.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~1m 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.
8
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
5
65 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Merge onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|NC 87
Take the exit onto NC 87
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.17
$26.33
premium
$4.70
$14.25
$28.50
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Morning
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC
Morning
in Boiling Spring Lakes on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 61% of your journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself navigating a mix of fast-paced freeway stretches and standard highway driving as you make your way toward Boiling Spring Lakes. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 24.9-mile stretch along the Wilmington Highway, which allows for consistent cruising. Because the route relies on primary roads, the experience is functional and efficient rather than technical. Expect a steady, predictable pace behind the wheel that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal detours or complex maneuvering.
61% 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: 24.9 mi on Wilmington Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilmington Highway and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Boiling Spring Lakes, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
Myrtle Beach
64.6 mi in|~1h 23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway. 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: at 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Boiling Spring Lakes, NC before heading back.
