Road trip cost
At 603 miles and roughly 9 hr 42 min of driving, the route from Birmingham, AL to Wilmington, NC is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.
603 mi
9 hr 42 min
1
2
1 suggested fuel stop
Key takeaway
Drive intensity
Consider an overnight stop.
Pre-filled with the Birmingham → Wilmington distance.
Estimated Trip Cost
$0.00
Per Person
$0.00
Gallons
0.00gal
Total miles: 603 (one way).
We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.
Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.
Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 603-mile route.
$67.84
one way · ~21.5 gal
$74.30
one way · ~21.5 gal
$82.91
one way · ~21.5 gal
A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 1 stop along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.
Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 2 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.
Midpoint
Augusta, GA
Roughly halfway between Birmingham and Wilmington. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.
Route personality
Long-distance interstate driveBeach destinationOvernight-friendlyBirmingham, AL
Wilmington, NC
Summer
Peak beach and theme-park traffic; expect 20–40% longer drive times around weekends.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov)
Tropical storms can cause sudden closures and price spikes — check NOAA before long Southeast or Gulf drives.
For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.
A one-way drive uses about $74 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.
Late spring and early fall avoid both crowded summer beach traffic and winter storms.
Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.
Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.
High — swap drivers every 2–3 hours and consider splitting the drive over a meal stop.
At 9 hr 42 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.
This 603-mile route between Birmingham, AL and Wilmington, NC is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 9 hr 42 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.
The drive is about 603 miles and takes roughly 9 hr 42 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.
In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 21.5 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 27.4 gallons.
At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $74.30 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.
A typical gas sedan needs about 1 fuel stop one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 2 DC fast-charges.
For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.
Late spring and early fall avoid both crowded summer beach traffic and winter storms.
Augusta, GA is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.
Estimated 603-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.
Cheapest to drive
57 MPG · hybrid
~$36
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest EV
134 MPGe · ev
~$24
est. one-way charging cost
See full breakdownBest sedan
37 MPG · sedan
~$56
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest SUV for comfort
33 MPG · suv
~$63
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest truck for cargo
26 MPG · truck
~$80
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownRelated routes
Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.
Reverse drive
Wilmington to Birmingham driving cost
603 mi · 9.7 h
Other road trip cost estimates that start in Birmingham, AL.
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