Wilmington, NC to Gaston, NC is 181 miles and takes about 3h 27m via Michael Jordan Highway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $28 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. It's a straightforward drive that's easily manageable in a single day, ideal for a quick transition between two points without extensive planning. You'll encounter a mix of driving conditions, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
90.5 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
64.6 mi
1h 9m
I 95
55.6 mi
59m
I 795
24.9 mi
26m
Faison Highway
18.4 mi
24m
US 13
5.3 mi
6m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
State Highway 46
3 mi
5m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,250 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,725
Quietest
2 AM
~62 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Gaston, 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
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·Michael Jordan Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward NC 403: Faison
6
Turn right onto US 117 Connector; NC 403
18 mi·24 min·Faison Highway
7
Continue on US 13; US 117 Connector
5.3 mi·6 min·US 13; US 117 Connector
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on I 795
25 mi·26 min·I 795
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 18BToward I 95 North
10
Merge onto I 95
56 mi·59 min·I 95
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NC 46: Gaston, Garysburg
12
Turn left onto US 158; NC 186
160 ft·3 sec·US 158; NC 186
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 158; NC 186
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 158; NC 186
14
Continue on NC 46; NC 186
3.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 46
15
Turn straight
106 ft·4 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Wilmington in the morning should get you to Gaston with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the Michael Jordan Highway, as it represents the longest stretch without a major break. The $28 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning, but always check current prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your timing based on traffic or your personal pace.
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 90.5 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.6 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.5 miles or 1h 46m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gaston, 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 181 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 64.6 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 177.8 — 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
121.2 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18B
Toward I 95 North
5
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward NC 46: Gaston, Garysburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 46: Gaston, Garysburg
5
177.8 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|US 158; NC 186
Keep slight right at fork onto US 158; NC 186
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.17 one way
$52.33 round trip
$3.67/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$29.53
$59.06
premium
$4.55
$32.44
$64.87
diesel
$5.65
$40.29
$80.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.3
0
$19.01
$8.69
Efficient EV
45.3
0
$15.84
$7.24
EV Truck/SUV
72.4
0
$25.34
$11.58
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
9:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Rain Showers
N 8 to 18 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 17 at 5:51AM EDT until October 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 5:41AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Destination
Gaston, NC
Morning
in Gaston on Sunday
Local time
9:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Rain
N 13 to 18 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 17 at 5:51AM EDT until October 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 5:41AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
48°F
Princeton, NC
91 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
10 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
3h 27m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 52% of the route on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 64.6 miles, primarily on the Michael Jordan Highway. You'll notice the transition from more open highway cruising to areas with more frequent exits and potentially slower surface roads as you get closer to your destination. About half the drive is on higher-speed roads, with the other half on more varied terrain.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.6 mi on Michael Jordan 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 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 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 181 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 121.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 3h 27m. Total distance: 181 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.6 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Gaston, 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 121.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Gaston, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
