Origin
Pinebluff, NC
Afternoon in Pinebluff on Tuesday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pinebluff, 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
2h 38m
Distance
129.1 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pinebluff, NC
R9 Media Photo Collective
Trip Overview
Pinebluff, NC to Wilmington, NC is 129.1 miles and takes about 2h 38m via Andrew Jackson Highway and US 15, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The route primarily uses surface roads, offering a more relaxed pace than a high-speed interstate. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a single-day excursion when you want to reach your destination without a major time commitment. Consider this if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points with minimal highway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.5 miles from Pinebluff, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 64.4 mi | 1h 18m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| US 15 | 14.5 mi | 19m |
| Addor Road | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Ocean Highway East | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Highland Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| McFarland Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Walnut Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinebluff, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 1
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Walnut Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Addor Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Addor Road
3
Continue on Addor Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Addor Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Ashemont Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Ashemont Road
5
Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
US 15;US 501
6
Continue on US 15;US 501
199 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 15;US 501
7
Turn straight onto US 15; US 501
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 15; US 501
8
Enter roundabout
120 ft
·
2 sec
9
Continue
105 ft
·
1 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 15; US 501
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Aberdeen Road
11
Turn slight left onto McFarland Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
McFarland Road
12
Continue on Highland Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Highland Road
13
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
15
Merge onto US 74
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Continue on US 74
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
17
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Highway East
19
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
20
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 38m duration, departing in the morning from Pinebluff will comfortably get you to Wilmington before midday. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in your timing. The fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave, as highway services might be less frequent on the surface road sections. Pay attention to local speed limits as you transition between different towns along Andrew Jackson Highway and US 15. Since this is a single-day drive, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Pinebluff, NC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
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 Pinebluff, 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 Pinebluff, NC
This is one driving day of about 129.1 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Pinebluff, 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 64.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.5 miles from Pinebluff, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.4 miles.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 26.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Addor Road
Turn sharp left onto Addor Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
5.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Ashemont Road
At end of road, turn left onto Ashemont Road
Navigation decision point
4
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 15;US 501
Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
20.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
26.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 74 BUS / Andrew Jackson Highway
Turn left onto US 74 BUS / Andrew Jackson Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.19 one way
$40.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $22.07 | $44.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.89 | $47.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.50 | $57.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.56 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Fairmont, NC
65 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
24 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
2h 38m 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 is mostly surface roads, with only about 11% on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 64.4 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway before transitioning. Expect to navigate through local traffic and intersections for a significant portion of the trip. The lower highway share means you'll likely experience more varied speed limits and frequent changes in scenery as you pass through different communities.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.4 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Addor Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pinebluff, NC to Wilmington, NC is easy. At 2h 38m with 11% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Addor Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.8 miles (Ashemont Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (US 15;US 501): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 2h 38m. Total distance: 129.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.4 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Addor Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.8 miles (Ashemont Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (US 15;US 501): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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