Origin
Apex, NC
Late night in Apex on Thursday
Local time
1:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
180.8 mi
291 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Kings Mountain, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC covers 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
90.4 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 37m drive with frequent turns across 180.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Saunders Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC is easy. At 3h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Saunders Street | — | — |
| West Chatham Street | — | — |
| Hunter Street | — | — |
| West Williams Street | — | — |
| US 64 West | — | — |
| Isaac Brooks Highway | — | — |
| I 85 | — | — |
| I 85 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Saunders Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Kings Mountain, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
384 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Salem Street
2
Turn right onto Saunders Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Saunders Street
3
Turn right onto West Chatham Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Chatham Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hunter Street
295 ft
·
9 sec
·
Hunter Street
5
Turn right onto West Williams Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Williams Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward US 64 West
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 64 West
7
Merge slight left
33 mi
·
43 min
8
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Isaac Brooks Highway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Isaac Brooks Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
12
Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Greensboro Urban Loop
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
14
Keep slight left
108 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
16
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
17
Take the exit slight right toward NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Downtown
18
Keep slight left to continue on NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown
19
Turn left onto North Piedmont Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Piedmont Avenue
20
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 90.4 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 48m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kings Mountain, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Apex, 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 Apex, NC
This is one driving day of about 180.8 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Apex, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.4 mi from Apex, NC · 1h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.4 miles from Apex, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kings Mountain, NC
The final approach into Kings Mountain, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kings Mountain, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.27 one way
$56.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.91 | $61.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.46 | $66.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.92 | $79.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| Efficient EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.31 | $11.57 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Kings Mountain, NC
Late night in Kings Mountain on Thursday
Local time
1:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC covers 180.8 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.4 miles from Apex, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC is easy. At 3h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Apex, NC to Kings Mountain, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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