Raleigh to Wilmington is 130 miles and takes about 2h 27m via I 40 and Market Street, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the trip. With a total driving time under two and a half hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for your destination upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
109.4 mi
1h 57m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
10.3 mi
11m
Market Street
2.3 mi
4m
North College Road
1.2 mi
1m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
1.1 mi
1m
Wooster Street
1 mi
2m
North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Hammond Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on East South Street
506 ft·21 sec·East South Street
2
Turn right onto South Blount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Blount Street
3
Continue on Hammond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Hammond Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
5
Merge onto I 40; US 64
2.2 mi·2 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
8.1 mi·9 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland RdUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
10
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
11
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
12
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·North Kerr Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi·4 min·Market Street
14
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 16th Street
15
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi·2 min·Wooster Street
16
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft·2 sec·South 3rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over two hours, you have the flexibility to leave Raleigh at your convenience. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour. Fuel costs are estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before leaving Raleigh, as there are no designated stops in the data to plan around. The longest stretch on I 40 is over 100 miles, so plan for a brief stop before or after this segment if you prefer not to drive that far continuously.
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 65 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 12m 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 57m
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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC
This is one driving day of about 130 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Raleigh, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 109.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 15.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
6
11.9 mi into trip|~15m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
14 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
5
15.7 mi into trip|~19m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.33 one way
$40.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.23
$44.46
premium
$4.70
$24.06
$48.12
diesel
$5.61
$28.70
$57.40
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: 45.5 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
39
0
$13.65
$6.24
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
EV Truck/SUV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Raleigh, NC
Morning
in Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
NW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 4:08AM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 3:06AM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
11:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 4:08AM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 3:06AM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
2h 27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 107.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I 40, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 109.4 miles. The initial part of the journey involves Thomas Bradshaw Freeway before merging onto the interstate. Market Street marks the final approach into Wilmington. The character is primarily one of efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower, local roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 130 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 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The capital of North Carolina and the largest city of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is the primary political and economic driver of the metro area. Indeed, business and politics are the main draws to Raleigh, which lacks the more trendy feel or active arts scene of Durham or Chapel Hill to the west. However, a concerted effort to expand the residential base and move events downtown has led to significantly expanded retail and restaurant options in the downtown core. Also, visitors will find many of the state's cultural institutions here, namely a major performing arts center downtown and three state museums, and a college town atmosphere in the neighborhood around the campus of North Carolina State University, the state's largest university.
Top landmarks
•North Carolina Museum of Art — state art museum in Raleigh, North Carolina
•North Carolina State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of North Carolina
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 2h 27m. Total distance: 130 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
