Origin
Cape Carteret, NC
Afternoon in Cape Carteret on Thursday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Carteret, NC to Lola, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
59.5 mi
96 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lola, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Cape Carteret, NC to Lola, NC covers 59.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 70, WB McLean Drive, NC 12 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.8 miles on US 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Cape Carteret, NC to Lola, NC covers 59.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 24 / WB McLean Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 24 / WB McLean Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 24 / WB McLean Drive
Depart onto NC 24 / WB McLean Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
15.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
US 70 / Arendell Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 / Arendell Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
28.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 70
Turn right onto US 70
Navigation decision point
3
35.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 70
Turn left onto US 70
Navigation decision point
5
41.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 70
Turn sharp left onto US 70
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 20.8 mi | 30m |
| WB McLean Drive | 15.8 mi | 22m |
| NC 12 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Arendell Street | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| Grayden Paul Bridge | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Lola Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 20.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Carteret, NC and Lola, NC.
1
Start on NC 24
16 mi
·
22 min
·
WB McLean Drive
Use the straight lane.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 70
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Grayden Paul Bridge
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto US 70
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
6
Turn left onto US 70
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
7
Turn sharp left onto US 70
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 70
8
Continue on NC 12
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
NC 12
9
Turn right onto Lola Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lola Road
10
Arrive at destination
Lola Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.7 mi from Cape Carteret, NC · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Cape Carteret, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lola, NC
The final approach into Lola, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.30 one way
$18.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.17 | $20.35 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.01 | $22.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.14 | $26.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Lola, NC
Afternoon in Lola on Thursday
Local time
3:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
10 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
1h 27m 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 Cape Carteret, NC to Lola, NC covers 59.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 70, WB McLean Drive, NC 12. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.7 miles from Cape Carteret, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.30 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 24 / WB McLean Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cape Carteret, NC to Lola, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cape Lookout National Seashore.
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