This 205-mile drive from Wilmington, NC, to Southmont, NC, will take you approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily utilizing roads like Andrew Jackson Highway and US 220, about 36% of this journey involves highway driving. It's a feasible day trip, covering a moderate distance with an estimated fuel cost of $32. The route offers a mixed driving experience as you transition from the Southeast region's coastal influences to the more inland landscapes. With only one recommended stop, you'll have plenty of flexibility to set your own pace.
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
102.5 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
80.3 mi
1h 36m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
US 220
27.5 mi
31m
NC 109
23.1 mi
32m
G R Kindley Freeway
10.5 mi
11m
NC 8
6.5 mi
9m
Candor-Troy Road
5.8 mi
7m
Flat Swamp Road
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Southmont, 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
11 mi·11 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 311Toward US 1: RockinghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 1
1.1 mi·1 min·US 1
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 220
4.4 mi·6 min·US 220
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 220
0.4 mi·36 sec·US 220
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
23 mi·25 min·US 220
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NC 211: Candor, Pinehurst
14
Turn right onto NC 211
1.4 mi·2 min·NC 211
15
Continue on Pack House Road
0.4 mi·39 sec·Pack House Road
16
Turn slight left onto US 220 ALT
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 220 ALT
17
Turn left onto Candor-Troy Road
5.8 mi·7 min·Candor-Troy Road
18
Continue on Troy Candor Road
3.2 mi·4 min·Troy Candor Road
19
Continue on Taft Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Taft Street
20
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
21
Continue on NS 98757
0.1 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
22
Turn right onto Eldorado Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Eldorado Street
23
Continue on NC 109
23 mi·32 min·NC 109
24
Turn left onto NC 47
0.8 mi·2 min·East Salisbury Street
25
Continue on Flat Swamp Road
3.8 mi·5 min·Flat Swamp Road
26
At end of road, turn right onto NC 8
6.5 mi·9 min·NC 8
27
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Wilmington to maximize your daylight and arrive in Southmont with ample time. While it's a manageable one-day trip, the longest stretch of 80.3 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway means you can comfortably go for extended periods without needing a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before entering longer, less populated segments. Planning for just one stop allows for a relaxed pace, but be sure to refuel when you see convenient options, as services can become more spaced out.
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 102.5 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 45 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southmont, 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 205 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 80.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 134.4 — 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.
7
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 311
Toward US 1: Rockingham
5
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220 toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Ash...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.06 one way
$64.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.05
$70.10
premium
$4.70
$37.94
$75.88
diesel
$5.61
$45.26
$90.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.53
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.94
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.70
$13.12
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Late night
in Wilmington on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southmont, NC
Late night
in Southmont on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Troy, NC
103 mi in
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
22 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 15m 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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 14.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this North Carolina journey, blending sections of faster highway travel with more local road cruising. The highway share is around 36%, meaning you'll encounter a variety of road types. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 80.3 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, which provides a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. As you progress, the character of the drive will evolve, moving away from the immediate coastal feel of Wilmington towards the more central regions of the state.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 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 205 miles you will encounter 13 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 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Southmont, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Pinehurst 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 205 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Southmont, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 128.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Southmont, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
