This 116.7-mile drive from Walkertown, NC to Wilmington, NC is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 22 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day adventure, making it ideal if you're looking for a quick transition between destinations within the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this highway-focused journey keeps things efficient. You'll primarily be on I-40, offering a consistent pace for most of the drive. Plan on this being a practical, no-fuss trip where the focus is on getting you to your destination smoothly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.4 miles from Walkertown, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
79 mi
1h 24m
Timothy Road
5.6 mi
7m
Bunnlevel Erwin Road
5.4 mi
8m
Green Path Road
2.6 mi
3m
Maple Grove Church Road
2.6 mi
3m
Market Street
2.3 mi
4m
Long Branch Road
1.9 mi
2m
Harnett-Dunn Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 79 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walkertown, NC and Wilmington, NC.
1
Start on Wire Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Wire Road
2
Turn right onto McLean Chapel Church Road
1.0 mi·1 min·McLean Chapel Church Road
3
Turn left onto US 401
0.3 mi·29 sec·US 401
4
Turn right onto Bunnlevel Erwin Road
5.4 mi·8 min·Bunnlevel Erwin Road
5
Turn left onto NC 217
0.7 mi·1 min·NC 217
6
Turn slight right onto Old Cut Off Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Old Cut Off Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto NC 82
287 ft·7 sec·Iris Bryant Road
8
Continue on NC 82
0.6 mi·1 min·Antioch Church Road
9
Turn right onto NC 82
1.2 mi·1 min·NC 82
10
Turn left onto Dorman Road
1.5 mi·1 min·Dorman Road
11
Continue on Arrowhead Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Arrowhead Road
12
Continue on State Road 1002
1.9 mi·2 min·Long Branch Road
13
Turn straight onto Pope Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Pope Road
14
Continue on North Spring Branch Road
0.9 mi·1 min·North Spring Branch Road
15
Turn left onto Green Path Road
2.6 mi·3 min·Green Path Road
16
Keep slight right at fork onto Timothy Road
5.6 mi·7 min·Timothy Road
17
Turn left onto Maple Grove Church Road
2.6 mi·3 min·Maple Grove Church Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto Oak Grove Church Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·Oak Grove Church Road
19
Turn left onto Old Crow Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Old Crow Road
20
Turn right onto NC 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Harnett-Dunn Highway
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
22
Merge onto I 40
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 40
23
Continue on US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
24
Turn right onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
25
Turn left onto North Kerr Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·North Kerr Avenue
26
Turn right onto US 17 Business
2.3 mi·4 min·Market Street
27
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 16th Street
28
Turn right onto US 17; US 76
1.0 mi·2 min·Wooster Street
29
Turn right onto US 17 Business
92 ft·2 sec·South 3rd Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 22-minute duration, this trip is best tackled in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will allow you to reach Wilmington with ample daylight. Since the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 79 miles on I-40, plan for a mid-drive break around that point if needed, as gas stations and rest areas are common along major interstates. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're starting with less than a full tank, to avoid any unnecessary stops. The estimated $18 fuel cost should give you a good budget baseline for this NC to NC journey.
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 58.4 miles from Walkertown, NC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.4 miles or 1h 14m 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 54m
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 Walkertown, 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 Walkertown, NC
This is one driving day of about 116.7 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Walkertown, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 79 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 115.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.3 mi into trip|~14m in|NC 82 / Iris Bryant Road
At end of road, turn right onto NC 82 / Iris Bryant Road
Navigation decision point
4
16.5 mi into trip|~24m in|Green Path Road
Turn left onto Green Path Road
Navigation decision point
4
19.2 mi into trip|~28m in|Timothy Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Timothy Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
27.3 mi into trip|~39m in|Oak Grove Church Road
At end of road, turn right onto Oak Grove Church Road
Navigation decision point
4
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Turn right onto US 17; US 76 / Wooster Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.93 one way
$35.86 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$19.65
$39.29
premium
$4.64
$21.31
$42.62
diesel
$5.61
$25.77
$51.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.25
$5.60
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
EV Truck/SUV
46.7
0
$16.34
$7.47
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Walkertown, NC
Afternoon
in Walkertown on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mount Olive, NC
58 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
2 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 22m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 96.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The majority of this route, 71% to be exact, is spent on the interstate, specifically I-40. This means you'll experience a significant amount of highway driving, characterized by higher speeds and fewer traffic lights. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is an impressive 79 miles on I-40, allowing for a solid period of uninterrupted travel. While the route does incorporate local roads like Timothy Road and Bunnlevel Erwin Road, the overall profile is decidedly highway-focused, suggesting a consistent driving experience for most of the 116.7 miles.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Timothy Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near NC 82 / Iris Bryant Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 22m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (NC 82 / Iris Bryant Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (Green Path Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.2 miles (Timothy Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
The longest stretch is about 79 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: at 9.3 miles (NC 82 / Iris Bryant Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (Green Path Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.2 miles (Timothy Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
