The drive from Beaufort, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 287.1 miles and takes about 6h 19m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Burgaw Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.8 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.5 miles from Beaufort, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 19m. Total distance: 287.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 19m drive with frequent turns across 287.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 73.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.1 miles in near Turner Street.
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 18 significant decision points across 287.1 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 0.1 miles (Turner Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 207 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.4 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Turner Street
Turn right onto Turner Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
207 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
221.4 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
7
254.7 mi into trip|~5h 38m in|US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
286 mi into trip|~6h 17m in
Take the exit toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
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 Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
73.8 mi
1h 27m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Burgaw Highway
30.6 mi
43m
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi
21m
NC 24
16.3 mi
23m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
NC 11
10.3 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beaufort, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on Ann Street
298 ft·12 sec·Ann Street
2
Turn right onto Turner Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Turner Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 70
8.0 mi·13 min·US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto NC 24
16 mi·23 min·NC 24
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on NC 24
2.9 mi·6 min·Cedar Point Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on NC 24
3.2 mi·7 min·West Corbett Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on NC 24
9.3 mi·11 min·Freedom Way
8
Continue on NC 24
5.0 mi·7 min·Lejeune Boulevard
9
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 24 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Lejeune Boulevard
10
Turn slight right onto NC 24 Business
0.6 mi·56 sec·Johnson Boulevard
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Marine Boulevard
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Richlands Highway
13
Continue on NC 53
31 mi·43 min·Burgaw Highway
14
Turn straight onto US 117 Business; NC 53
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Bridges Street
15
Turn left onto US 117 Business; NC 53
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Walker Street
16
Turn right onto NC 53
3.2 mi·5 min·East Wilmington Street
17
Turn left onto Malpass Corner Road
8.2 mi·11 min·Malpass Corner Road
18
Continue on NC 210
8.7 mi·13 min·Borough Road
19
Turn left onto NC 11
10 mi·14 min·NC 11
20
Merge onto US 74; US 76
42 mi·48 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
22
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
27
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.3 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
29
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
30
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi·34 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
32
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi·21 min·Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi·9 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi·6 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.4 mi·27 sec·East Independence Boulevard
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell StreetUse the slight right lane.
37
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East 6th Street
38
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Tryon Street
39
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.5 miles from Beaufort, NC, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 63 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.5 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, NC
This is one driving day of about 287.1 miles and 6h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Beaufort, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 73.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.5 mi from Beaufort, NC
· 3h 24m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 89.1
A boat ride three miles off-shore brings you to the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing, and touring historic vi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.90 one way
$89.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$49.09
$98.18
premium
$4.70
$53.14
$106.27
diesel
$5.61
$63.39
$126.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.15
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.19
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Beaufort, NC
Afternoon
in Beaufort on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charlotte, NC
Afternoon
in Charlotte on Friday
Local time
12:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 19m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Beaufort, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 287.1 miles and takes about 6h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Burgaw Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.5 miles from Beaufort, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 287.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Turner Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 207 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221.4 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Beaufort, NC to Charlotte, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
