Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night in Wilmington on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilmington, NC to River Bend, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
88.7 mi
143 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Bend, NC
Tim Dusenberry
Trip Overview
This 88.7-mile drive from Wilmington, NC to River Bend, NC is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll primarily be on US 17 and the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $14, this is an economical journey. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region of North Carolina, you won't be crossing state lines, keeping things simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 30.6 mi | 42m |
| New Bern Highway | 23.7 mi | 29m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 11.8 mi | 12m |
| Market Street | 9.1 mi | 14m |
| US 421 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| South Marine Boulevard | 4 mi | 6m |
| US 17 Business | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 30.6 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and River Bend, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 17; US 76; US 421
4
Take the exit onto US 421
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 421
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
6
Merge onto I 140
12 mi
·
12 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
7
Continue on US 17
9.1 mi
·
14 min
·
Market Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 17; NC 210
30 mi
·
41 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Marine Boulevard
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Marine Boulevard
11
Continue on US 17
24 mi
·
29 min
·
New Bern Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 17 Business
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Business
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 17 Business
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Shoreline Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Shoreline Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after morning traffic has subsided. There are no designated stops recommended, so you can decide to pull over as needed or drive straight through. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major town is 30.6 miles on US 17. The estimated fuel cost is $14, so you should have a good idea of your expenses before you even leave Wilmington.
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 44.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.6 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 1h 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Bend, 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 88.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 30.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 85.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17; US 76; US 421
Turn right onto US 17; US 76; US 421
Navigation decision point
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 140 East: Topsail Island, Jacksonville...
4
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
US 17 / North Marine Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 / North Marine Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
84.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 17 Business
5
85.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
US 17 Business
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.87 one way
$27.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.17 | $30.33 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.42 | $32.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.58 | $39.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.31 | $4.26 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
River Bend, NC
Late night in River Bend on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live 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
31 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 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 6.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 55% of your journey taking place on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 30.6 miles on US 17, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you transition between US 17, New Bern Highway, and the John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, the road's character will shift, offering varied driving conditions. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway segments and potentially more local road driving as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.6 mi on US 17.
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 8 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 Effort
5/10
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 88.7 miles you will encounter 8 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): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.2 miles (US 17 / North Marine Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 River Bend, NC, road signs point toward Jacksonville and New Bern.
Jacksonville
5.2 mi in
|
~7m
New Bern
5.2 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
Starting in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →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.
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 2h 1m. Total distance: 88.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). 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 30.6 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.2 miles (US 17 / North Marine Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 River Bend, NC before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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