If you are planning a coastal getaway from Wilmington to Beaufort, you are looking at a 104.8-mile trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes. Since this is a relatively short journey, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, though you have the flexibility to extend your stay if you prefer a slower pace. You will navigate a mix of local roads, including South 3rd Street, I-140 East, and the John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway, keeping your fuel budget to a modest $16. Both cities are located within the Southeast region of North Carolina, ensuring a consistent coastal atmosphere throughout your transit. It is a straightforward trip that avoids the complexity of long-distance planning, making it an excellent choice for a weekend escape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
30.1 mi
41m
WB McLean Drive
16.2 mi
23m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.8 mi
12m
Freedom Way
9.3 mi
11m
Market Street
9.1 mi
14m
Arendell Street
7.5 mi
12m
Lejeune Boulevard
5.2 mi
7m
US 421
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 30.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Beaufort, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
372 ft·14 sec·South 3rd Street
2
Continue on US 17 Business
508 ft·23 sec·South 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·US 17; US 76; US 421
4
Take the exit onto US 421
4.3 mi·5 min·US 421
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
6
Merge onto I 140
12 mi·12 min·John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
7
Continue on US 17
9.1 mi·14 min·Market Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 17; NC 210
29 mi·39 min·US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 17; I 97
0.6 mi·53 sec·US 17; I 97
10
Merge onto US 17; NC 24; I 97
1.4 mi·1 min·KIA/MIA/POW Freeway
11
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
0.4 mi·28 sec·Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
12
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
1.3 mi·1 min·Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 24; NC 53; I 397
0.6 mi·48 sec·Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
14
Merge onto NC 24; NC 53
5.2 mi·7 min·Lejeune Boulevard
15
Continue on NC 24
9.3 mi·11 min·Freedom Way
16
Continue on NC 24
3.2 mi·7 min·West Corbett Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on NC 24
2.9 mi·6 min·Cedar Point Boulevard
18
Continue on NC 24
16 mi·23 min·WB McLean Drive
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
5.2 mi·8 min·Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi·3 min·Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi·55 sec·Grayden Paul Bridge
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto US 70 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·Turner Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto Ann Street
298 ft·10 sec·Ann Street
24
Arrive at destination
Ann Street
Trip Plan
Because this 104.8-mile drive involves significant local navigation, you should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy sections. Leaving Wilmington during off-peak hours will help you manage the local roads more comfortably, as traffic patterns can influence your transit time. Budgeting around $16 for fuel is a safe estimate, but be sure to fill up before leaving urban areas to avoid any mid-trip stress. Since the trip is short enough to complete in one day, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever you like without feeling rushed. A top tip for this route is to keep a close eye on your GPS, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making frequent turns to stay on track.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 52.4 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.1 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC
This is one driving day of about 104.8 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Wilmington, 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 US 17 for about 30.1 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 0.2 and 104.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 17; US 76; US 421
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
Navigation decision point
6
5.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville...
4
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
96.2 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 70 / Arendell Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 / Arendell Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 70 Business / Turner Street
Turn right onto US 70 Business / Turner Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.39 one way
$32.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.92
$35.84
premium
$4.70
$19.40
$38.79
diesel
$5.61
$23.14
$46.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 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
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
EV Truck/SUV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Beaufort, NC
Late night
in Beaufort on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Jacksonville, NC
52 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
29 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 32m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 7.2
A boat ride three miles off-shore brings you to the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing, and touring historic vi...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 104.8
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will navigate through various local thoroughfares, meaning your attention will remain focused on the road rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. In fact, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on South 3rd Street, emphasizing the technical nature of the navigation required to reach your destination. While the drive is not a high-speed highway sprint, the constant changes in direction keep the experience engaging. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay alert through the various local transitions between these two North Carolina towns.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.1 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 104.8 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway): 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 104.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.1 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Beaufort, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles (NC 24; NC 53; I 397 / Ronald W. Reagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield and Cape Lookout National Seashore. 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 Beaufort, NC before heading back.
