US-421 turns east from US-401 near the northern end of town and leads southeast 14 miles (23 km) to Dunn.

[4] The Cape Fear River crosses the northern part of the town.

Poorhouse Creek, a tributary of the Cape Fear River, begins on the southwestern end of Lillington.

[7] The town of Lillington is named for John Alexander Lillington (circa 1725–1786), aka Alexander John Lillington, who was a Patriot officer from North Carolina in the American Revolutionary War, notably fighting in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in 1776 and serving as brigadier general in the state militia.

[8][9] The Summer Villa and the McKay-Salmon House and Summerville Presbyterian Church and Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[10] As of the 2020 United States census, 4,735 people, 924 households, and 540 families resided in the town.