Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Wilmington, NC to Wentworth, 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 17m
Distance
222.3 mi
358 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilmington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Wentworth, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Wilmington to Wentworth is 222.3 miles and takes about 4h 17m via Michael Jordan Highway and I-40, with a fuel budget near $34 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. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way inland. This is a straightforward drive, suitable for a single day, with a manageable duration and cost.
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
111.2 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 107.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 40 | 69.5 mi | 1h 19m |
| Ossipee Road | 19.3 mi | 22m |
| NC 87 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| West Harrison Street | 5.9 mi | 11m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| South 3rd Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East Harden Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 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 Wentworth, 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
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto NC 54
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
8
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
9
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
10
Take the exit onto NC 87
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
NC 87
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto NC 87
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Ossipee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto NC 87
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
NC 87
13
Take the exit onto NC 87
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
NC 87
Toward NC 65 West, NC 87 North: Wentworth, Eden
14
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 87
138 ft
·
6 sec
·
NC 87
Toward NC 65 West, NC 87 North: Wentworth, Eden
15
Turn sharp left onto NC 65; NC 87
5.9 mi
·
11 min
·
West Harrison Street
16
Turn sharp right onto Hancock Road
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hancock Road
17
Arrive at destination
Hancock Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m drive time, leaving Wilmington in the morning allows ample time to reach Wentworth before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the 107.3-mile stretch of Michael Jordan Highway, as fuel options might be less frequent there. The $34 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but check current prices closer to your departure.
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 111.2 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 2h 3m 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wentworth, 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 222.3 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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
111 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.2 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
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
IONNA Drivers Lounge
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
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
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 216.4 — 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.
6
114.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
184.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
5
185.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
|
NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
216.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m in
|
NC 87
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 87 toward NC 65 West, NC 87 North: Wentworth, Eden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 65 West, NC 87 North: Wentworth, Eden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.36 one way
$70.72 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $38.55 | $77.10 |
| premium | $4.78 | $41.83 | $83.65 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $46.82 | $93.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.34 | $10.67 |
| Efficient EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.12 | $14.23 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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
4:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 3 to 9 mph
21% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Wentworth, NC
Afternoon in Wentworth on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 3 to 7 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington 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
3 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
4h 17m 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 23
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 38% of this route is highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway before transitioning to surface roads. The driving will involve some highway cruising, but expect to see more local traffic and exits as you get closer to your destination, indicating a shift from faster travel to more community-focused roads.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 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?
8/10
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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 222.3 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 (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
736 ft
32 ft
Total Climb
797 ft
Total Descent
97 ft
Highest Point
736 ft
~222.3 mi in
Elevation Range
704 ft
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.
On the drive from Wilmington, NC to Wentworth, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Chapel Hill along the way.
Chapel Hill
184.3 mi in
|
~3h 27m
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 Wentworth, NC
Full guide →Founded 1787
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 17m. Total distance: 222.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m 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 12 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 Wentworth, 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 12 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 (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Wentworth, 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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