Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Tobaccoville, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
246.2 mi
396 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilmington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Tobaccoville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Wilmington to Tobaccoville is 246.2 miles and takes about 4h 43m via Michael Jordan Highway and I-40, with a fuel budget near $38 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. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get across the state.
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
123.1 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 107.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 40 | 106.4 mi | 2h 3m |
| Winston-Salem Northern Beltway | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| Salem Parkway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Griffin Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| NC 74 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South 3rd Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,278 veh/hr typical · worst 2,688
Quietest
2 AM
~133 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Tobaccoville, 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 left at fork onto I 40
86 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Salem Parkway
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 227
Toward NC 74 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on NC 74
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
NC 74
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 52
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 120
Toward Westinghouse Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
77 ft
·
9 sec
15
Turn left onto Westinghouse Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Westinghouse Road
16
Turn right onto Griffin Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Griffin Road
17
Turn right onto Doral Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Doral Drive
18
Turn left onto Tobaccoville Road
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tobaccoville Road
19
Arrive at destination
Tobaccoville Road
Trip Plan
Leaving Wilmington in the morning should give you ample time to reach Tobaccoville before dark, especially since the drive is under 5 hours. With only one recommended stop and a single day recommendation, you have flexibility in when and where you take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $38, and it's wise to fill up before hitting longer stretches where services might be less frequent. Since the longest continuous highway segment is over 100 miles, ensure you're topped off before starting that portion.
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 123.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 17m 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 54 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 17m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tobaccoville, 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 246.2 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.1 miles from Wilmington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Duplin County I-40 Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
IONNA Drivers Lounge
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 242.4 — 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.
8
221.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m in
|
US 421 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
7
227.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward NC 74 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 227
Toward NC 74 West
7
239.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
7
242.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward Westinghouse Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 120
Toward Westinghouse Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.16 one way
$78.32 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $42.70 | $85.39 |
| premium | $4.78 | $46.32 | $92.64 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $51.86 | $103.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.85 | $11.82 |
| Efficient EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.54 | $9.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.5 | 1 | $34.47 | $15.76 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 10 mph
44% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 6:08PM EDT until May 27 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 5:54PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Destination
Tobaccoville, NC
Afternoon in Tobaccoville on Wednesday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 9 mph
72% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 6:08PM EDT until May 27 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 5:54PM 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
8 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 43m 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
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 25.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About half of this drive, 49%, is on highways. You'll encounter a long 107.3-mile stretch on the Michael Jordan Highway. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, meaning you'll transition from faster-paced driving to more local roads as you get closer to your destination. Expect to see a change from open highway cruising to more integrated traffic patterns.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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?
7/10
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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 246.2 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 221.3 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 227.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,018 ft
34 ft
Total Climb
1,192 ft
Total Descent
210 ft
Highest Point
1,018 ft
~246.2 mi in
Elevation Range
984 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Luna Caffè
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop;tea
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-18:00
Visit websiteCobblestone Cafe
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Hours: 08:00-13:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Burlington, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Burlington, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Colonial Mall, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Cary, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteBurger King
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-21:00
Visit websiteHardee's
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.2 mi from route
Benson, NC
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteDunkin'
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.2 mi from route
Benson, NC
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 06:00-20:00
Visit websiteHooters
Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.2 mi from route
Burlington
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteWaffle House
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Benson, NC
Cuisine: american
Hours: 24/7
Visit websiteDomino's
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Benson, NC
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su...
Visit websiteOne Tree Hill Nathan and Haley Place
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hours: 24/7
One Tree Hill Rivercourt
Attraction
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hours: 24/7
Cape Fear Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
One Tree Hill Institute
Attraction
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00
One Tree Hill Lucas Home
Attraction
Near the start, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Hours: 24/7
Kaplan Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Latimer House Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
NC
Visit websiteBellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Wilmington, NC
Hours: 10:00-17:00
Visit websiteOrange Street Landing
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Visit website
Cape Fear Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
NC
Visit websiteTo the Soldiers of the Confederacy
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Monument to Cornelius Harnett
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Homewood Suites by Hilton Greensboro
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Embassy Suites by Hilton Greensboro - Airport
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Hell's Kitchen
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Wilmington, NC
Fairfield Inn Greensboro Airport
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Motel 6
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Bestway Inn
Motel
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
King, NC
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Wilmington, NC
Full guide →“Port City”
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
Arriving in Tobaccoville, NC
Full guide →Founded 1991
Top landmarks
- • Old Richmond Schoolhouse and Gymnasium — building in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, United States
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 4h 43m. Total distance: 246.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m 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 17 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 Tobaccoville, 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 17 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 221.3 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 227.8 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Tobaccoville, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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