Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Late night in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, 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 19m
Distance
58.2 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Jacksonville to Wilmington, this 58.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the Southeast region of North Carolina. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is highly economical for travelers looking to move between these two coastal hubs. You will primarily navigate via Wilmington Highway, US 17, and the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway. Because the entire route remains within the same region, you won't face drastic environmental shifts, allowing for a predictable and efficient 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 |
| Marine Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Highway East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 24.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Wilmington, 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
12 mi
·
13 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 421: Clinton, Carolina Beach
7
Turn right onto US 421
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
9
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ocean Highway East
10
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
11
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from Jacksonville, 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 1.1 and 57 — 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.
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 421
Turn right onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
$9.10 one way
$18.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.77 | $21.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.85 | $25.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Hampstead, NC
29 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
21 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 19m 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?
This drive offers a mixed-road experience, balancing highway efficiency with local transitions. You will spend about 53% of your travel time on highways, providing a steady rhythm as you head south. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you progress, the road shifts from the initial highway segments into the flow of the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway near your destination. Expect a functional, balanced pace that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate route while maintaining a reliable speed for the duration of the trip.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 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?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.2 miles you will encounter 6 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: at 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 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 Jacksonville, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Carolina Beach along the way.
Carolina Beach
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 10m
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 19m. Total distance: 58.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 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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