Origin
Stedman, NC
Morning in Stedman on Tuesday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stedman, 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
1h 55m
Distance
81 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stedman, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Stedman to Wilmington is 81 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via Wilmington Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina's Southeast region, offering a straightforward trip. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its short duration, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for exploration at your destination. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive highway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Stedman, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 37.8 mi | 50m |
| Old Mintz Highway | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| Tomahawk Highway | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Harrells Highway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Autry Highway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Clinton Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Clear Run School Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 37.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stedman, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on SR 1971
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Clinton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on NC 24
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Autry Highway
3
Continue on NC 24
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Autry Hwy
4
Continue on NC 24
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Roseboro Highway
5
Turn right onto SR 1515
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
6
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
7
Turn right onto NC 242
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Roseboro Street
8
Continue on NC 242
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
Elizabethtown Highway
9
Turn straight onto NC 411
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Old Mintz Highway
10
Continue on NC 411
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West 2nd Street
11
Turn left onto NC 411
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Belgrade Avenue
12
Continue on NC 411
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Harrells Highway
13
At end of road, turn right onto NC 411
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Harrells Highway
14
Continue on Clear Run School Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Clear Run School Road
15
Turn left onto NC 41
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Tomahawk Highway
16
Turn right onto US 421
38 mi
·
50 min
·
Wilmington Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421
18
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
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
With a total drive time of under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $13, this is a flexible, same-day trip. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Wilmington. While there are no officially designated stops in the data, the drive is short enough that you can easily pull over if needed, perhaps for a quick break in one of the towns along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Wilmington, as stations might be more concentrated closer to the city center. The numerous turns mean you'll want to stay alert and follow your navigation closely.
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 40.5 miles from Stedman, NC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 1h 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 38m
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 Stedman, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stedman, NC
This is one driving day of about 81 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Stedman, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Highway for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Stedman, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79 — 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
|
SR 1971 / Clinton Road
Depart onto SR 1971 / Clinton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
NC 242 / West Roseboro Street
Turn right onto NC 242 / West Roseboro Street
Navigation decision point
5
30.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
NC 411 / Harrells Highway
At end of road, turn right onto NC 411 / Harrells Highway
Navigation decision point
4
41.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 421 / Wilmington Highway
Turn right onto US 421 / Wilmington Highway
Navigation decision point
4
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.67 one way
$25.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.85 | $27.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.99 | $29.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.88 | $35.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.89 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.09 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.34 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Clear
SW 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
82°F
Rose Hill, NC
41 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
15 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
1h 55m 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 route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive, with 100% of the journey on non-interstate roads. You'll navigate through communities using roads like Wilmington Highway and Old Mintz Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.8 miles on Wilmington Highway, providing a solid segment of consistent driving before you need to make turns. The road's personality leans towards a more engaged driving experience, winding through local landscapes instead of a monotonous highway cruise.
Only 1% 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: 37.8 mi on Wilmington Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 1971 / Clinton Road.
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 1h 55m drive. You will face about 11 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 (SR 1971 / Clinton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles (NC 242 / West Roseboro Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles (NC 411 / Harrells Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 1h 55m. Total distance: 81 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on Wilmington Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 1971 / Clinton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles (NC 242 / West Roseboro Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles (NC 411 / Harrells Highway): 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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