This straightforward 123-mile drive from Wilmington, NC to the City of Greenville, NC is easily manageable in about 2 hours and 10 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region, staying within North Carolina for the entire journey. With an estimated fuel cost of around $20, this route is quite budget-friendly. The profile suggests a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so don't expect a high-speed interstate cruise; instead, anticipate a more engaging, ground-level experience. Given its short duration, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and enjoy the scenery along the way without needing an overnight stop.
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
57.6 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
Michael Jordan Highway
34.8 mi
37m
NC 11
20.5 mi
28m
NC 41
17.7 mi
25m
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
17 mi
22m
NC 241
9.1 mi
12m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
Old Pink Hill Road
4.5 mi
7m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 34.8 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and City of Greenville, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·South 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi·6 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
35 mi·37 min·Michael Jordan Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
6
Turn right onto NC 41
18 mi·25 min·NC 41
7
Continue on NC 241
9.1 mi·12 min·NC 241
8
Turn right onto NC 11
0.7 mi·1 min·North Kinston Boulevard
9
Continue on NC 11
12 mi·17 min·NC 11
10
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
4.5 mi·7 min·Old Pink Hill Road
11
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
0.5 mi·1 min·East King Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto NC 11; NC 55
200 ft·2 sec·Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
13
Continue on NC 11; NC 55
17 mi·22 min·Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 11
8.2 mi·11 min·NC 11
Toward NC 11 North: Winterville
15
Merge onto US 264 Alternate; NC 43
1.1 mi·2 min·Greenville Boulevard Southwest
Use the right lane.
16
Turn slight left onto South Evans Street
1.3 mi·2 min·South Evans Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Evans Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 123-mile trip, you have the advantage of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to arrive in Greenville with plenty of daylight. Since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive' and not an interstate, plan for your 2 hour and 10 minute estimated travel time, and perhaps add a little buffer for any unexpected local traffic. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $20, so you should have enough gas for the trip without worry. A specific tip for this route would be to stay alert for frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions as you navigate through various towns and local stretches.
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 57.6 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Greenville, 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 115.2 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 34.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 112.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.5 mi into trip|~10m in|US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
42.4 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 41: Wallace, Beulaville
5
104.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|NC 11
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 11 toward NC 11 North: Winterville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NC 11 North: Winterville
5
112.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 264 Alternate; NC 43 / Greenville Boulevard Southwest
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.01 one way
$36.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.70
$39.39
premium
$4.70
$21.32
$42.64
diesel
$5.61
$25.43
$50.87
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: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.13
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Greenville, NC
Late night
in City of Greenville on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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
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 33m 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 19.9
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' for this 123-mile journey, as indicated by its profile. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be encountering any major interstates or high-speed travel. The route is characterized by frequent turns and local road navigation, offering a more intimate connection with the landscape. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the nature of a 'turn-heavy' drive suggests you'll be actively engaged with steering and managing your speed as you transition between different local road segments. This drive is less about covering ground quickly and more about the experience of navigating through communities.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.8 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
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 115.2 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to City of Greenville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Beulaville along the way.
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 33m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). 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 34.8 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. 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 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 City of Greenville, NC before heading back.
