Wilmington to Yanceyville is 198 miles and takes about 3h 52m via Michael Jordan Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within North Carolina, transitioning from the Southeast region to its central part. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on well-maintained roads, suitable for a single day of travel. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without needing an overnight stop.
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
99 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
I 40
33.5 mi
38m
NC 86
27.7 mi
36m
Durham Freeway
12.2 mi
15m
US 70
6.5 mi
9m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
I 85
2.1 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 20 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Yanceyville, 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
33 mi·38 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·44 sec
Exit 279BToward I 885 North: Downtown DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 885
4.1 mi·4 min·Durham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
8.1 mi·10 min·Durham Freeway
Exit 9Toward NC 147 North: Durham DowntownUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 85; US 70
2.1 mi·2 min·I 85; US 70
10
Take the exit onto US 70
6.5 mi·9 min·US 70
Toward US 70 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto NC 86
28 mi·36 min·NC 86
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto State Road 1163
199 ft·6 sec·State Road 1163
13
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Turn right onto North Avenue
146 ft·5 sec·North Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
North Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 52m estimated drive time, leaving Wilmington in the morning should allow you to reach Yanceyville with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 107-mile stretch on Michael Jordan Highway, as fuel stops might be less frequent there. Plan to refuel before heading out or early in your drive to ensure a smooth journey through the mixed highway and surface road profile.
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 99 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 50m 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 50m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yanceyville, 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 198 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 163.4 — 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.
7
148.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 279B
Toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
8
153.1 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
6
163.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US 70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 70 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.49 one way
$62.99 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$34.34
$68.68
premium
$4.78
$37.25
$74.51
diesel
$5.35
$41.70
$83.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.4
0
$20.79
$9.50
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.33
$7.92
EV Truck/SUV
79.2
0
$27.72
$12.67
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Evening
in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
5:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
N 6 to 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 3:15PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 3:15PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Yanceyville, NC
Evening
in Yanceyville on Wednesday
Local time
5:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
N 0 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 3:15PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 3:15PM EDT until June 2 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
2 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 52m 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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 20.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 44% of this 198-mile trip is on highways, meaning you'll experience a mix of faster travel and surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 107.3 miles, likely on Michael Jordan Highway, before you transition to other roads like I-40 and NC-86. Expect some cruising on highways and then a change of pace as you navigate the remaining portion of the trip on surface roads, which could mean more local traffic or varied speed limits.
44% 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: 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 198 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 148.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 52m. Total distance: 198 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m 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.
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 Yanceyville, 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 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 148.4 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Yanceyville, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
