Origin
Burlington, NC
Afternoon in Burlington on Monday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, NC to Kings Mountain, NC
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
139.2 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Troy Tumbin
Kings Mountain, NC
Anna McDonald
Trip Overview
The drive from Burlington, NC to Kings Mountain, NC covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 85, Sam Hunt Freeway, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 108 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.28 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
69.6 miles from Burlington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 139.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 85 and Sam Hunt Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 108 miles on I 85.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 108 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 139.2 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 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.4 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
8
135.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
7
138.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Downtown
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 NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Dow...
9
138.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 108 mi | 2h 2m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| US 29 | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Church Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Alamance Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Piedmont Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 108 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Kings Mountain, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn left onto NC 87; NC 100
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 70; NC 62
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Fisher Street
4
Turn straight onto US 70; NC 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto NC 62
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
7
Merge onto I 40; I 85
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
108 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 74
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
115 ft
·
2 sec
Toward NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto NC 216
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Piedmont Avenue
16
Turn left
86 ft
·
6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Burlington, NC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 22m 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 12m
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 Burlington, 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 Burlington, NC
This is one driving day of about 139.2 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burlington, 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 I 85 for about 108 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.6 mi from Burlington, NC · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.6 miles from Burlington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.28 one way
$44.55 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $24.27 | $48.54 |
| premium | $4.78 | $26.18 | $52.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.93 | $61.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.62 | $6.68 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.49 | $8.91 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Afternoon in Kings Mountain on Monday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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
2h 42m 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 Burlington, NC to Kings Mountain, NC covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 85, Sam Hunt Freeway, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.6 miles from Burlington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.28 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 139.2 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 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.4 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Burlington, NC to Kings Mountain, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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