Wilmington to Denton is 194.3 miles and takes about 4h via Andrew Jackson Highway and US 220, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll be covering a good portion of the state, so plan for a full day of driving.
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
97.1 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
80.3 mi
1h 36m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
US 220
27.5 mi
31m
NC 109
23.1 mi
32m
G R Kindley Freeway
10.5 mi
11m
Candor-Troy Road
5.8 mi
7m
US 17
3.5 mi
4m
Troy Candor Road
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 36m
Traffic on I-73
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~578 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,027
Quietest
2 AM
~44 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Denton, 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
11 mi·11 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 311Toward US 1: RockinghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 1
1.1 mi·1 min·US 1
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 220
4.4 mi·6 min·US 220
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 220
0.4 mi·36 sec·US 220
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
23 mi·25 min·US 220
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NC 211: Candor, Pinehurst
14
Turn right onto NC 211
1.4 mi·2 min·NC 211
15
Continue on Pack House Road
0.4 mi·39 sec·Pack House Road
16
Turn slight left onto US 220 ALT
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 220 ALT
17
Turn left onto Candor-Troy Road
5.8 mi·7 min·Candor-Troy Road
18
Continue on Troy Candor Road
3.2 mi·4 min·Troy Candor Road
19
Continue on Taft Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Taft Street
20
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
21
Continue on NS 98757
0.1 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
22
Turn right onto Eldorado Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Eldorado Street
23
Continue on NC 109
23 mi·32 min·NC 109
24
Turn left onto NC 47
0.4 mi·1 min·East Salisbury Street
25
Arrive at destination
NC 47
Trip Plan
This 4-hour drive is easily manageable in one day, so you can leave Wilmington in the morning and arrive in Denton by the afternoon. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, it’s an economical trip. Consider making your main stop around the halfway point to break up the 80.3-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on the highway sections.
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 97.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denton, 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 194.3 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 80.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 134.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 17; US 76; US 421
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
117.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 311
Toward US 1: Rockingham
5
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220 toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Ash...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.33 one way
$56.67 round trip
$3.70/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.18
$31.98
$63.95
premium
$4.59
$35.08
$70.16
diesel
$5.68
$43.42
$86.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.33
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$17.00
$7.77
EV Truck/SUV
77.7
0
$27.20
$12.44
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Saturday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Denton, NC
Morning
in Denton on Saturday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
40 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 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
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 13.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this route is on highways. You'll encounter an 80.3-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mixed driving experience, transitioning from highway speeds to surface roads. The route involves sections with a higher density of exits and then opens up to more rural cruising.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort6/10
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 194.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
698 ft36 ft
Total Climb
733 ft
Total Descent
71 ft
Highest Point
698 ft
~194.3 mi in
Elevation Range
662 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 Denton, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Pinehurst 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 194.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 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 Denton, 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): Lane positioning matters here; at 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Denton, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
