Wilmington, NC to Murfreesboro, NC is 209.8 miles and takes about 4h 12m via Michael Jordan Highway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $33 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. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. Plan for a relatively quick drive that allows for flexibility in your schedule.
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
104.9 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m 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
US 158
19.1 mi
27m
Faison Highway
18.4 mi
24m
Jackson Bypass Road
10.6 mi
18m
US 13
5.3 mi
6m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
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 Murfreesboro, 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·24 sec
Toward NC 46: Gaston, Garysburg
12
Turn right onto US 158; NC 186
5.6 mi·7 min·US 158; NC 186
13
Take the exit
386 ft·12 sec
14
Turn left onto US 158
0.4 mi·36 sec·US 158
15
Turn right onto Jackson Bypass Road
11 mi·18 min·Jackson Bypass Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 158
13 mi·19 min·US 158
17
Turn left onto US 158 Business
2.2 mi·4 min·US 158 Business
18
Arrive at destination
US 158 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 12m duration, departing Wilmington in the morning should allow you to reach Murfreesboro with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 64.6-mile stretch on Michael Jordan Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is $33, so budgeting for this is key. Consider an early afternoon arrival to maximize your time at your destination.
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 104.9 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 2m 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 2m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, 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 209.8 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 177.6 — 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.
4
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward NC 403: Faison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NC 403: Faison
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.59 one way
$61.19 round trip
$3.70/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.18
$34.53
$69.05
premium
$4.59
$37.88
$75.76
diesel
$5.68
$46.88
$93.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.03
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.37
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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
9:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Murfreesboro, NC
Morning
in Murfreesboro on Saturday
Local time
9:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 13 mph0% 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 12m 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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 21.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 53% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 64.6 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. Expect to transition from highway travel to surface roads as you approach your destination. The route involves some merging and exiting, typical of mixed highway and surface road profiles.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 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 Effort5/10
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 209.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
156 ft13 ft
Total Climb
210 ft
Total Descent
164 ft
Highest Point
156 ft
~134.9 mi in
Elevation Range
143 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 Murfreesboro, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Garysburg 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 12m. Total distance: 209.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 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 72.2 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Murfreesboro, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
