Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
20.7 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Hanby Beach, NC
Aneesh Prodduturu
Wrightsville Beach to Hanby Beach is 20.7 miles and takes about 36 minutes via Carolina Beach Road, South College Road, and Oleander Drive, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within North Carolina's Southeast region, making it a convenient local excursion. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and navigating through developed areas rather than open highway. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a quick change of scenery without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Beach Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| South College Road | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Oleander Drive | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Dow Road North | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Wrightsville Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Causeway Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Ocean Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Lake Park Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wrightsville Beach, NC and Hanby Beach, NC.
Start on US 76
Continue on US 74; US 76
Continue on US 74; US 76
Turn left onto Wrightsville Avenue
Turn left onto US 17; US 76
Continue on US 17; US 76
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132
Continue on NC 132
Continue on US 421
Turn right onto Dow Road North
Turn left onto Ocean Boulevard
Turn right onto US 421
Turn right onto Ocean View Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 20.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Wrightsville Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 17; US 76 / Military Cutoff Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132 / South College Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Ocean Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 421 / South Lake Park Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.99 one way
$5.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $3.38 | $6.75 |
| premium | $4.55 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
| diesel | $5.65 | $4.61 | $9.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Wrightsville Beach on Saturday
Local time
1:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Hanby Beach on Saturday
Local time
1:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is characterized by its turn-heavy local feel, with no highway driving involved (0% highway share). The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 6.1 miles along Carolina Beach Road. As you progress, you'll transition through different local roads like South College Road and Oleander Drive, each presenting its own set of intersections and traffic patterns. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and road conditions.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near Wrightsville Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 36m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (Wrightsville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (US 17; US 76 / Military Cutoff Road): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (US 117; NC 132 / South College Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
68 ft
Total Descent
60 ft
Highest Point
42 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
39 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, short detour
Kure Beach, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Tu-Su 07:00-17:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-21:00; Sa-Su 05:30-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-21:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 05:30-23:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 09:00-22:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: pizza
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: tex-mex
Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-26:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websiteAttraction
Near the end, right off the route
Park
Near the end, short detour
Attraction
Near the end, short detour
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
Hours: 24/7
Monument
Near the start, right off the route
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Monument
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Memorial
Early in the drive, right off the route
Memorial
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Carolina Beach, NC
Visit websiteMotel
Near the end, short detour
Kure Beach, NC
Visit websiteMotel
Near the end, short detour
Kure Beach, NC
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Hotel
Around the midpoint, short detour
Wilmington, North Carolina
Visit websiteHotel
Early in the drive, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1853
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 20.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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