Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Hendersonville, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 10m
Distance
300.9 mi
484 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 58m
★
6 AM
6h 11m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 20m
12 PM
6h 17m
3 PM
6h 21m
5 PM
6h 35m
8 PM
6h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilmington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Hendersonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wilmington to Hendersonville is 300.9 miles and takes about 6h 10m via Andrew Jackson Highway and I 85, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region towards its western mountains. Expect a route that involves more local roads than interstate cruising, making it a good option if you prefer a less highway-centric experience. With a recommended single day of driving, it's manageable for most travelers looking to connect these two points within the state.
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
150.5 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 110.1 mi | 2h 13m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| I 85 | 24.1 mi | 29m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway | 18.3 mi | 19m |
| West Dixon Boulevard | 15.7 mi | 17m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 14.4 mi | 15m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 110.1 mi, about 2h 13m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,222 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~638 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Hendersonville, 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 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
Use 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
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
13
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
20
Merge onto I 277; US 74; NC 16; NC 27
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
John Belk Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto NC 27
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 27
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Use the left lane.
23
Merge onto I 85
24 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Use the slight right lane.
25
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
27
Continue on US 74
12 mi
·
17 min
·
East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the ramp onto US 74
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 74
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
30
Merge onto I 26; US 74
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward Asheville
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 64 West: Hendersonville
32
Continue on US 64
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Four Seasons Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 64
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Four Seasons Boulevard
34
Continue on US 64
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
35
Continue on US 64
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
7th Avenue East
36
Turn left onto US 25 Business
346 ft
·
22 sec
·
North Church Street
37
Turn left onto US 64
297 ft
·
12 sec
·
6th Avenue West
38
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Wilmington to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in when and where you stop, but planning for one main break is built into the estimates. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto Andrew Jackson Highway, as services might be more spread out than on major interstates. A good time to refuel would be before you begin the 110.1-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway to ensure you have plenty of range.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.5 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.1 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 66 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hendersonville, 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 300.9 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 110.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.5 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
I-26 East NC Welcome Center
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 226 — 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.
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
7
165.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
|
US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
199.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
|
NC 27
Take the exit onto NC 27 toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
8
226 mi into trip
|
~4h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.42 one way
$88.85 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $48.82 | $97.64 |
| premium | $4.49 | $53.21 | $106.43 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $56.82 | $113.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.59 | $14.44 |
| Efficient EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.33 | $12.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.4 | 1 | $42.13 | $19.26 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
S 12 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:27PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:01PM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Hendersonville, NC
Late night in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:27PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:01PM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
8 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
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 10.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 23% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 110.1 miles along Andrew Jackson Highway. You'll transition from highway driving to navigating more local routes, so be prepared for frequent intersections and lower average speeds. Expect to notice the change as you move from faster interstate segments to more controlled, community-level roadways.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.1 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 16 significant decision points across 300.9 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): Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,155 ft
36 ft
Total Climb
2,166 ft
Total Descent
48 ft
Highest Point
2,155 ft
~300.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,118 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wilmington, NC and Hendersonville, NC, road signs point toward Shelby and Asheville.
Shelby
226 mi in
|
~4h 38m
Asheville
282 mi in
|
~5h 45m
|
via I 26; US 74
About the Cities
Starting in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →“Port City”
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
Arriving in Hendersonville, NC
Full guide →Founded 1838
Hendersonville is a small town just south of Asheville, North Carolina. Established in 1847, downtown Hendersonville is full of 19th and early 20th century architecture and has a friendly "Small Town, USA" feeling. You'll find a thriving Main Street complete with fine restaurants, homemade ice cream shops, antique stores, and lots of artists and art galleries. Downtown Hendersonville is a fantastic place to spend a day shopping with beautiful landscaping, wide sidewalks, comfortable benches, outdoor water fountains and plenty of parking, not to mention all of the wonderful and unique shops.
Top landmarks
- • Oakdale Cemetery — cemetery in Hendersonville, North Carolina
- • Chewning House — historic house in Henderson, North Carolina, U.S.A.
- • King-Waldrop House — historic house in Hendersonville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 300.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.1 miles on Andrew Jackson 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 Hendersonville, 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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hendersonville, NC before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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