Origin
Bessemer City, NC
Night in Bessemer City on Wednesday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bessemer City, NC to Gastonia, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
11m
Distance
6.7 mi
11 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 10m
★
6 AM
0h 11m
8 AM
0h 13m
10 AM
0h 12m
12 PM
0h 12m
3 PM
0h 12m
5 PM
0h 13m
8 PM
0h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bessemer City, NC
C k
Gastonia, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 6.7-mile journey between Bessemer City, NC, and Gastonia, NC, is easily completed in just 11 minutes, making it an ideal local drive. With no highway driving involved, you'll primarily navigate local roads like Bessemer City Road and West Franklin Boulevard. The estimated fuel cost is a minimal $1, reflecting the short distance. Given its brevity, this route is perfect as a single-day trip and doesn't require an overnight stay. The drive offers a straightforward connection within the Southeast region of North Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
3.3 miles from Bessemer City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 6.7-mile stretch, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 3.6 miles on Bessemer City Road. This route is characterized by frequent turns and changes in direction as you transition between local streets. You'll be navigating a more intimate, community-level road network rather than open highway.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bessemer City Road is the longest continuous segment at about 3.6 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 274 / East Virginia Avenue.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bessemer City, NC to Gastonia, NC is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 274 / East Virginia Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (US 29; US 74; NC 274 / West Franklin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
2 of 2 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 274 / East Virginia Avenue
Turn left onto NC 274 / East Virginia Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 29; US 74; NC 274 / West Franklin Boulevard
Turn left onto US 29; US 74; NC 274 / West Franklin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bessemer City Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| West Franklin Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gastonia Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Virginia Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bessemer City Road
— 3.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bessemer City, NC and Gastonia, NC.
1
Start on North 12th Street
41 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 12th Street
2
Turn left onto NC 274
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Virginia Avenue
3
Turn straight onto NC 274
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gastonia Highway
4
Continue on NC 274
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Bessemer City Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 29; US 74; NC 274
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Franklin Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Arrive at destination
US 29; US 74; NC 274
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only 11 minutes long, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Fuel costs are negligible at around $1, so you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns indicated by the 'turn-heavy' profile. The longest stretch without a turn is 3.6 miles, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and navigation. This short distance means you can easily depart and arrive without needing to plan for extended breaks.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 3.3 miles from Bessemer City, NC, or about 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.6 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 6.7 miles or 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.3 miles or 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gastonia, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Bessemer City, NC.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bessemer City, NC
This is one driving day of about 6.7 miles and 11m.
At 6.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Bessemer City Road for about 3.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.3 mi from Bessemer City, NC · 5m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 6.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.3 miles from Bessemer City, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gastonia, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Gastonia, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.05 one way
$2.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.15 | $2.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.24 | $2.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.48 | $2.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.59 | $0.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Gastonia, NC
Night in Gastonia on Wednesday
Local time
10:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
11m 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 Bessemer City, NC to Gastonia, NC covers 6.7 miles and takes about 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bessemer City Road, West Franklin Boulevard, Gastonia Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.3 miles from Bessemer City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Bessemer City, NC to Gastonia, NC is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 274 / East Virginia Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (US 29; US 74; NC 274 / West Franklin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bessemer City, NC to Gastonia, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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