Wilmington to Ramseur is 184.5 miles and takes about 3h 39m via Michael Jordan Highway and US 64, 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. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a good option for a single-day drive where you can take your time. The relatively short duration and manageable distance mean you can easily fit this into a weekend or as a travel day.
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
92.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
US 64
40.4 mi
54m
Triangle Expressway
19.5 mi
20m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
Foushee Road
3.1 mi
4m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
3m
Cleveland Road
1.6 mi
2m
North College Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 37 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,390 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,878
Quietest
2 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
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 Ramseur, 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
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·Michael Jordan Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·23 sec
Toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Cleveland Rd
7
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.6 mi·2 min·Cleveland Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on SR 1010
1.1 mi·1 min·Cleveland School Road
9
Turn right onto NC 50
0.5 mi·56 sec·Benson Road
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward NC 540 Toll West: ApexUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
19 mi·20 min·Triangle Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 59A-BToward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 59BToward US 64 West: PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 64
40 mi·54 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
17
Continue on Parks Crossroads Church Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Parks Crossroads Church Road
18
Turn right onto Foushee Road
3.1 mi·4 min·Foushee Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto NC 22
0.4 mi·49 sec·Coleridge Road
20
Arrive at destination
NC 22
Trip Plan
For this 3h 39m drive, leaving Wilmington in the morning is a good idea, allowing you to arrive in Ramseur with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $28, and plan a fill-up if needed, especially before you hit longer stretches like the 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. Since this is a one-day trip, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, freeing up time for 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 92.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 1h 43m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ramseur, 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 184.5 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 107.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 139.2 — 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.
5
114.9 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
6
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the ramp toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
6
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A-B
Toward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
8
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59B
Toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.67 one way
$53.35 round trip
$3.67/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$30.10
$60.20
premium
$4.55
$33.06
$66.13
diesel
$5.65
$41.07
$82.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.37
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.1
0
$16.14
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.83
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Morning
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:36AM EDT until October 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Ramseur, NC
Morning
in Ramseur on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
N 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:56AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:36AM EDT until October 19 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
3h 39m 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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 25.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 184.5-mile route is on highways, with the remaining 65% being surface roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 107.3 miles on the Michael Jordan Highway before transitioning to other roads like US 64. Be prepared for a shift from higher-speed highway driving to more varied surface road conditions, which can include more intersections and potentially slower speeds as you get closer to Ramseur.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 184.5 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 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 118.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
577 ft26 ft
Total Climb
704 ft
Total Descent
256 ft
Highest Point
577 ft
~171.4 mi in
Elevation Range
551 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 Ramseur, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Pittsboro 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 3h 39m. Total distance: 184.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.3 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 Ramseur, 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 114.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 118.7 miles: 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Ramseur, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
