Wilmington to Youngsville is 150.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 57 minutes via Michael Jordan Highway and Capital Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a route that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate trip. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this is a straightforward drive for a single day.
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
75.3 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
Capital Boulevard
16.3 mi
24m
I 40
11.5 mi
12m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
I 440
3.1 mi
3m
I 87
2.1 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
1.7 mi
3m
Holden Road
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 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,167 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,513
Quietest
2 AM
~54 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Youngsville, 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
11 mi·12 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·56 sec
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
7
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.1 mi·2 min·I 87; I 440; US 64
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 440
3.1 mi·3 min·I 440
Toward I 440 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 1 North, US 401 North: Wake Forest, Louisburg, Capital BlvdUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 1; US 401
0.9 mi·1 min·Capital Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 401
1.2 mi·2 min·Capital Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·Capital Boulevard
Toward Wake Forest, HendersonUse the left / straight lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
8.4 mi·11 min·Capital Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Holden Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Holden Road
15
Continue on NC 96
0.3 mi·52 sec·West Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
NC 96
Trip Plan
Given the under 3-hour drive time, leaving Wilmington in the morning allows ample time to reach Youngsville with daylight to spare. You'll want to budget around $23 for fuel for this 150.6-mile trip. Since it's a relatively short drive with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach and navigate Capital Boulevard, especially during peak hours, as this is where you'll encounter more urban congestion.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 25m 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngsville, 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 150.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 134.4 — 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
129 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|I 440
Keep slight left at fork onto I 440 toward I 440 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 440 West
7
132.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North, US 401 North: Wake Forest, Louisburg, Capital Blvd
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 1 North, US 401 North: Wake Forest, L...
8
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 1 / Capital Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 / Capital Boulevard toward Wake Forest, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward Wake Forest, Henderson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.95 one way
$47.91 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$26.12
$52.24
premium
$4.78
$28.34
$56.67
diesel
$5.35
$31.72
$63.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.81
$7.23
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.18
$6.02
EV Truck/SUV
60.2
0
$21.08
$9.64
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 May 24, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 8 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 24 at 12:57PM EDT until May 25 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 24 at 10:40AM EDT until May 24 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Youngsville, NC
Afternoon
in Youngsville on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 24 at 12:57PM EDT until May 25 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 24 at 10:40AM EDT until May 24 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
65°F
Strickland Crossroads, NC
75 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
8 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 57m 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 20.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 14% highway share. You'll experience a significant stretch of 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway before transitioning to surface roads. Pay attention as you merge onto Capital Boulevard, as this section is known for its urban traffic patterns and numerous exits.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 12 significant decision points across 150.6 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 129 miles (I 440): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
465 ft31 ft
Total Climb
540 ft
Total Descent
111 ft
Highest Point
465 ft
~150.6 mi in
Elevation Range
435 ft
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 Youngsville, NC, road signs point toward Louisburg, Wake Forest and Henderson.
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 2h 57m. Total distance: 150.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 6 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 Youngsville, 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 6 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 129 miles (I 440): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Youngsville, NC before heading back.
