Pineville, NC to Wilmington, NC is 198.9 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Andrew Jackson Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns, rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a recommended one-day duration and a relatively short driving time, this route offers flexibility for a leisurely start or a relaxed arrival. It's a straightforward path connecting two points within the state, suitable for those who prefer a more grounded travel experience.
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
99.5 miles from Pineville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
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
Governor James G Martin Freeway
12 mi
12m
Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
4m
West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pineville, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Price Street
313 ft·16 sec·Price Street
2
Turn right onto Dover Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Dover Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto NC 51
0.3 mi·28 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on NC 51
0.6 mi·56 sec·Pineville-Matthews Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 485 South Outer
6
Merge onto I 485
12 mi·12 min·Governor James G Martin Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 51B-AToward US 74: Charlotte, MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 51BToward US 74 East: Monroe
9
Merge onto US 74
0.8 mi·1 min·East Independence Boulevard
10
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.
11
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi·27 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·West Marshville Boulevard
13
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·9 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
16
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
17
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
18
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
20
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
24
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
26
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
27
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 2m estimated drive time and the local road nature of this route, leaving in the morning allows for a comfortable pace. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short total distance, you have the flexibility to depart when you wish. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as local roads can sometimes have longer stretches between services than major interstates. A practical tip for this route: utilize your GPS actively, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means paying close attention to navigation to avoid missing crucial turns on the local roads.
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 99.5 miles from Pineville, NC, or about 2h 4m 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.5 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Pineville, 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 Pineville, NC
This is one driving day of about 198.9 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Pineville, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 91.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Dover Street
Turn right onto Dover Street
Navigation decision point
8
13.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 74: Charlotte, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51B-A
Toward US 74: Charlotte, Monroe
6
13.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 74 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 51B
Toward US 74 East: Monroe
9
15.1 mi into trip|~19m 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...
6
91.3 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.10 one way
$62.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$34.01
$68.02
premium
$4.70
$36.81
$73.62
diesel
$5.61
$43.91
$87.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.7
0
$20.88
$9.55
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.40
$7.96
EV Truck/SUV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Pineville, NC
Afternoon
in Pineville on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Rockingham, NC
99 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
3 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
4h 2m 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 185.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a dynamic road experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise. With only 23% of the drive on highways, you'll primarily navigate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. This indicates that while there are periods of more consistent travel, you should anticipate frequent changes in direction and speed limits as you make your way across the landscape. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience as you move through towns and local communities.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 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?
8/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near Dover Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 198.9 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: at 0.1 miles (Dover Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Pineville, NC to Wilmington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Pineville is a suburban town located in south-central North Carolina. Though it maintains its traditional town center, it is one of the most rapidly-growing suburbs of Charlotte. Pineville is, by residential population, the smallest town in Mecklenburg County.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 198.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m 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: at 0.1 miles (Dover Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
