Origin
Smithfield, NC
Morning in Smithfield on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smithfield, 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 7m
Distance
105.5 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 15m
5 PM
2h 25m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smithfield, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Smithfield to Wilmington is 105.5 miles and takes about 2h 7m via I 40 and US 701, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. If you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without much fuss, this route fits the bill.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Smithfield, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 76.9 mi | 1h 22m |
| US 701 | 14.9 mi | 21m |
| I 95 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| 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 |
| Hobbton Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smithfield, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on US 70 BUS
25 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Market Street
2
Turn left onto US 301; NC 96
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Brightleaf Boulevard
3
Turn left onto East Lee Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Lee Street
4
Continue on Blount Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Blount Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Brogden Road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Brogden Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
7
Merge onto I 95
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 301, US 701, NC 96: Newton Grove, Bentonville Civil War Battleground
9
Turn right
252 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 701, NC 96
10
Turn straight onto US 701; NC 96
15 mi
·
21 min
·
US 701; NC 96
11
Enter roundabout onto US 701
282 ft
·
6 sec
·
Clinton Street
12
Continue on US 701
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clinton Street
13
Continue on US 701
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hobbton Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
15
Merge onto I 40
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 40
16
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Road
17
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
18
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kerr Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
20
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 16th Street
21
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Wooster Street
22
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 7 minutes, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan to leave when it suits you best, as there's no need to break this drive into overnights. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, keeping your tank topped off won't be a significant budget concern. A helpful tip for this route is to be mindful of the transition points between I 40 and US 701, as these are where the driving environment will change most noticeably.
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 52.8 miles from Smithfield, NC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 1h 5m 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 41m
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 Smithfield, 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 Smithfield, NC
This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Smithfield, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 76.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.8 miles from Smithfield, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.9 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 4.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 301; NC 96 / South Brightleaf Boulevard
Turn left onto US 301; NC 96 / South Brightleaf Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Lee Street
Turn left onto East Lee Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Brogden Road
At end of road, turn left onto Brogden Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 301, US 701, NC 96: Newton Grove, Bentonville Civil War Battleground
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 301, US 701, NC 96: Newton Grove, Ben...
6
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn right toward US 701, NC 96
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 701, NC 96
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.50 one way
$33.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.04 | $36.08 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.53 | $39.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.29 | $46.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.08 | $5.06 |
| Efficient EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.23 | $4.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.77 | $6.75 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Morning in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Clear
SW 8 mph
0% chance
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
13 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
2h 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a 76.9-mile stretch primarily on I 40, offering a consistent pace. While the primary focus is on efficient travel via interstates and US highways, expect the character to shift slightly as you transition between these major arteries. It's designed for covering ground effectively, so anticipate a steady driving experience rather than winding scenic byways.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 701. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 301; NC 96 / South Brightleaf Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 7m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 301; NC 96 / South Brightleaf Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Lee Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Brogden Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Smithfield, NC
Full guide →Smithfield and Selma are a pair of adjacent towns in Johnston County, North Carolina.
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 7m. Total distance: 105.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.9 miles on I 40. 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: near the start (US 301; NC 96 / South Brightleaf Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Lee Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Brogden Road): Navigation decision point.
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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