Wilmington to Laurel Hill is 110.6 miles and takes about 2h 10m via US 17, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region toward the interior of the state. It's a straightforward trip that mostly utilizes surface roads, making it a good option if you're looking for a less highway-intensive drive. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is well within what most people can comfortably complete before dark.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
73.2 mi
1h 27m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
US 17
3.5 mi
4m
South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Morgan Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Malloy Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 73.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Laurel Hill, 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
13 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto NC 144
156 ft·3 sec·Morgan Street
8
Turn right onto Malloy Avenue
20 ft·0 sec·Malloy Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
Malloy Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 10m estimated drive time, departing Wilmington in the morning allows ample time to reach Laurel Hill without feeling rushed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. The fuel cost is estimated at $17, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before leaving Wilmington. While there are no designated stops mentioned, it's always wise to take short breaks as needed, especially during the 73.2-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be more spread out on the surface road sections.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.2 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 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 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel Hill, 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 110.6 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 73.2 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 110.5 — 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.
4
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|NC 144 / Morgan Street
Turn right onto NC 144 / Morgan Street
Navigation decision point
4
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Malloy Avenue
Turn right onto Malloy Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.59 one way
$35.18 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$19.18
$38.36
premium
$4.78
$20.81
$41.62
diesel
$5.35
$23.30
$46.59
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: 38.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening
in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 5 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laurel Hill, NC
Evening
in Laurel Hill on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 6 mph40% chanceLive 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
2 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 10m 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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 15.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 33% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a single road is 73.2 miles, primarily on Andrew Jackson Highway. You'll notice the transition from more developed areas to more rural cruising as you progress. Expect a mixed driving experience, with some time on US 17 before shifting to other main roads like American Indian Highway.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.2 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 17; US 76; US 421.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Laurel Hill, NC is easy. At 2h 10m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 110.5 miles (NC 144 / Morgan Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.5 miles (Malloy Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.2 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 0.2 miles (US 17; US 76; US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.5 miles (NC 144 / Morgan Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.5 miles (Malloy Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 Laurel Hill, NC before heading back.
