Wilmington to Davidson is 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 31m via Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll find this route is predominantly surface roads, making it a more relaxed drive than a pure interstate experience. It's a solid choice for a single-day trip, offering a straightforward path with a manageable duration and cost.
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
108.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi
1h 51m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 218
16.9 mi
23m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
Polk Street
13.4 mi
19m
Governor James G Martin Freeway
13.1 mi
14m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
7.1 mi
9m
I 77 North
6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-485
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,131 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,753
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
24.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Davidson, 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
3.5 mi·4 min·US 17; US 76; US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 74; US 76
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
6
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
11
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
0.6 mi·49 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
13
Turn right onto NC 218
0.3 mi·31 sec·Williams Street
14
Turn left onto NC 218
13 mi·19 min·Polk Street
15
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
105 ft·2 sec·NC 218
16
Continue on NC 218
4.2 mi·5 min·NC 218
17
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
228 ft·4 sec·NC 218
18
Continue on NC 218
2.8 mi·3 min·NC 218
19
At end of road, turn straight onto NC 218
83 ft·3 sec·NC 218
20
Turn slight left onto NC 218
6.7 mi·9 min·NC 218
21
Enter roundabout onto NC 218
130 ft·2 sec·NC 218
22
Continue on NC 218
3.1 mi·4 min·NC 218
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 485 North Outer
24
Merge onto I 485
13 mi·14 min·Governor James G Martin Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 485
5.6 mi·6 min·H Allen Tate Jr Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 23C-AToward I 77: Statesville, CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 23BToward I 77 North: StatesvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 77
0.2 mi·14 sec·I-77 North
30
Continue on I 77
1.4 mi·1 min·I 77 North
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
2.7 mi·3 min·I 77 North
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
2.0 mi·2 min·I 77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 77
2.6 mi·3 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
0.5 mi·35 sec·I-77 North
35
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 30Toward Griffith Street, DavidsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Griffith Street East, Davidson, Davidson College
37
Turn straight onto Griffith Street
234 ft·9 sec·Griffith Street
38
Enter roundabout onto Griffith Street
102 ft·4 sec·Griffith Street
39
Continue on Griffith Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Griffith Street
40
Enter roundabout onto Griffith Street
120 ft·5 sec·Griffith Street
41
Continue on Griffith Street
0.7 mi·2 min·Griffith Street
42
Turn left onto Jackson Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Jackson Street
43
Continue on Glasgow Street
390 ft·19 sec·Glasgow Street
44
Turn left onto Patterson Court Circle
0.4 mi·1 min·Patterson Court Circle
45
Turn left onto Ridge Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Ridge Road
46
Turn right
252 ft·18 sec
47
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 31m drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $31, pacing is flexible. The longest stretch without a significant highway section is 91.9 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that portion. Since this trip can comfortably be completed in a single day, you have the advantage of flexibility in your departure time and any brief pauses you might want to take 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 108.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 48 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.3 miles or 2h 8m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davidson, 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 216.6 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91.9 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 132 and 214.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
132 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
8
203.4 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23C-A
Toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte
8
204.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23B
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
8
214.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward Griffith Street, Davidson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward Griffith Street, Davidson
7
214.7 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Griffith Street East, Davidson, Davidson College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Griffith Street East, Davidson, Davidson...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.98 one way
$63.96 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$35.14
$70.28
premium
$4.49
$38.31
$76.61
diesel
$4.80
$40.90
$81.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.74
$10.40
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.95
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.32
$13.86
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Davidson, NC
Evening
in Davidson on Saturday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Monroe, NC
108 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
6 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
4h 31m 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
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 14.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, accounting for 74% of the total mileage. You'll encounter 26% of the route on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a primary road is 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect to transition from higher-speed highway driving to more rural cruising as you progress.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 132 miles in near US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway.
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 27 significant decision points across 216.6 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 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
780 ft36 ft
Total Climb
878 ft
Total Descent
134 ft
Highest Point
780 ft
~216.6 mi in
Elevation Range
744 ft
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 Davidson, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte 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.
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
Davidson is a small college town in North Carolina. It is known primarily for its association with Davidson College, and is a suburb of Charlotte. It has 15,106 residents (2020), of whom some 1,800 are students at the college.
Though Davidson has been swallowed by the suburban growth of Charlotte, it has made an intentional effort to retain its small-town identity. As a result, the downtown and campus area do not have the characteristic sprawl of most American suburbs.
Top landmarks
•Eumenean Hall — historic college building in Davidson, North Carolina
•Philanthropic Hall, Davidson College — historic university building in Davidson, North Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 216.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Davidson, 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 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Davidson, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
