This 207.3-mile drive from Spencer to Wilmington, North Carolina, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 26 minutes. You'll navigate using a combination of Andrew Jackson Highway, US 52, and American Indian Highway, with about 24% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this route offers a straightforward way to travel within the Southeast region. It's designed for a single day, so you can complete it without needing an overnight stop, making it a convenient option for a quick journey.
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
103.6 miles from Spencer, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
US 52
35.5 mi
49m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi
10m
Liberty Road
4.3 mi
5m
Ocean Highway East
3.1 mi
4m
Stokes Ferry Road
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spencer, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on South Carolina Avenue
49 ft·4 sec·South Carolina Avenue
2
Turn right onto 3rd Street
0.2 mi·1 min·3rd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 29; US 70; NC 150
0.5 mi·1 min·South Salisbury Avenue
4
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Jefferson Street
5
Continue on Andrews Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Andrews Street
6
Continue on Old Union Church Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Old Union Church Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto Goodman Lake Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·Goodman Lake Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto Bringle Ferry Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Bringle Ferry Road
9
Turn right onto Providence Church Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Providence Church Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto Stokes Ferry Road
3.1 mi·4 min·Stokes Ferry Road
11
Turn right onto Liberty Road
4.3 mi·5 min·Liberty Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 52
6.1 mi·10 min·US 52
13
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South Main Street
14
Turn left onto Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi·10 min·Old Salisbury Road
15
Continue on Salisbury Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Salisbury Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 52
29 mi·39 min·US 52
17
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·26 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
18
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
19
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
20
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
22
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
26
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
28
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
29
Turn left onto US 421; US 17 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South 3rd Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 26-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day. With only one stop recommended and a relatively short duration, you'll have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the longest stretch without a significant break is 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops you might want to make along the way.
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 103.6 miles from Spencer, NC, or about 2h 24m 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 46 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.6 miles or 2h 24m 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 40m
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 Spencer, 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 Spencer, NC
This is one driving day of about 207.3 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Spencer, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 29; US 70; NC 150 / South Salisbury Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 29; US 70; NC 150 / South Salisbury Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|East Jefferson Street
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
74 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
6
99.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
$30.61 one way
$61.21 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.63
$67.27
premium
$4.49
$36.66
$73.32
diesel
$4.80
$39.14
$78.28
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: 72.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.2
0
$21.77
$9.95
Efficient EV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
EV Truck/SUV
82.9
1
$29.02
$13.27
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Spencer, NC
Late night
in Spencer on Monday
Local time
2:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 1 to 5 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:49PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Late night
in Wilmington on Monday
Local time
2:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Clear
SW 9 to 14 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:49PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
90°F
Monroe, NC
104 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
8 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 26m 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 193
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a continuous highway experience. While 24% of your travel will be on highways, the majority of the journey involves more intricate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 91 miles along Andrew Jackson Highway. This suggests a driving experience that requires your attention to navigation and frequent adjustments as you transition between different road types and local thoroughfares.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 207.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 29; US 70; NC 150 / South Salisbury Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
734 ft36 ft
Total Climb
153 ft
Total Descent
826 ft
Highest Point
734 ft
~14.8 mi in
Elevation Range
698 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Top landmarks
•USS North Carolina — 1940 North Carolina-class battleship moored in Wilmington, North Carolina
•Fort Fisher — Confederate fort in Wilmington, North Carolina
•Bellamy Mansion — mansion in Wilmington, North Carolina, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 207.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
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 (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 29; US 70; NC 150 / South Salisbury Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Wilmington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
