Wilmington to Marshville is 163.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 19 minutes via Andrew Jackson Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With a single recommended day for travel, this route is ideal for a straightforward trip with a minimal time commitment and a predictable fuel cost.
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
81.6 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi
1h 51m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
US 17
3.5 mi
4m
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
3m
East Caswell Street
2.4 mi
4m
East Marshville Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Marshville, 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
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
0.7 mi·1 min·East Marshville Boulevard
15
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
16
Turn right onto Cross Street
436 ft·19 sec·Cross Street
17
Arrive at destination
Cross Street
Trip Plan
For this 163.3-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since the total duration is just over 3 hours, you won't need to break it into multiple days, but planning one stop for a break or meal is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and it's always better to top off before you're running low, especially on surface roads where stations might be less frequent. A specific tip for this route: be aware that the longest continuous stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway is over 90 miles, so ensure you have snacks and drinks before embarking on that segment.
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 81.6 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 38m 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 38m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshville, 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 163.3 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 163.2 — 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.
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
4
153.2 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|US 74 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
163.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|Cross Street
Turn right onto Cross Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.61 one way
$47.22 round trip
$3.67/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$26.64
$53.28
premium
$4.55
$29.27
$58.53
diesel
$5.65
$36.35
$72.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49
0
$17.15
$7.84
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
EV Truck/SUV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
10:14 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
Marshville, NC
Morning
in Marshville on Sunday
Local time
10:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
N 16 to 20 mph27% 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
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
5 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 19m 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 16.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on surface roads, with only about 11% of the route utilizing highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, which likely means consistent, local cruising rather than rapid highway travel. After the highway sections conclude, you'll continue on American Indian Highway and G R Kindley Freeway, maintaining a surface road feel for most of your trip. Expect to notice more frequent intersections and local traffic patterns typical of non-highway driving.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 5 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 163.3 miles you will encounter 5 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 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 19m. Total distance: 163.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m 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.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Marshville, 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 2 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 117.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Marshville, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
