Origin
Carolina Shores, NC
Afternoon in Carolina Shores on Saturday
Local time
3:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carolina Shores, NC to Charlotte, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
183.2 mi
295 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 47m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carolina Shores, NC
Mark Teachey
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carolina Shores, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 183.2 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on SC 9, Radford Boulevard, East Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on SC 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.65 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
91.6 miles from Carolina Shores, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SC 9 | 37.4 mi | 45m |
| Radford Boulevard | 25.8 mi | 31m |
| East Boulevard | 24.8 mi | 28m |
| US 601 | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| Independence Boulevard | 14.6 mi | 20m |
| Highway 9 East | 13.9 mi | 19m |
| Dillon Highway | 12.5 mi | 18m |
| South Main Street | 8.2 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
SC 9
— 37.4 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carolina Shores, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on Carolina Shores Parkway
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Carolina Shores Parkway
2
Turn right onto SR 1168
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Country Club Drive
3
Turn left onto US 17
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ocean Highway West
4
Continue on US 17
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 17
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward SC 31, Loris, Myrtle Beach
6
Merge onto SC 9
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 9 East
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn straight onto SC 9
24 mi
·
30 min
·
SC 9
8
Merge onto US 76
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 76
9
Continue on US 76; SC 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Nichols Street
10
Take the exit
195 ft
·
7 sec
11
Turn straight onto SC 9
8.2 mi
·
13 min
·
South Main Street
12
Turn left onto SC 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Avenue
13
Continue on SC 9
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Dillon Highway
14
Turn right onto US 301; US 501; SC 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 301 North
15
Turn left onto SC 9
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Radford Boulevard
16
Turn right onto SC 9; SC 38
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cottingham Boulevard South
17
Turn left onto SC 9
13 mi
·
14 min
·
SC 9
18
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street
19
Turn right onto Market Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
20
Continue on SC 9
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Chesterfield Highway
21
Continue on SC 9
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
East Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on SC 9
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
East Main Street
23
Turn straight onto SC 9
19 mi
·
21 min
·
East Boulevard
24
Continue on SC 9
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
McGregor Street
25
Continue on SC 9
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
East Mc Gregor Street
26
Turn right onto SC 151
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Lingle Mungo Boulevard
27
Continue on US 601
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 601
28
At end of road, turn slight left onto US 74; US 601
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
East Roosevelt Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on US 74
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Use the slight right lane.
33
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
34
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Tryon Street
35
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
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 91.6 miles from Carolina Shores, NC, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.4 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 40 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.6 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
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 Carolina Shores, 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 Carolina Shores, NC
This is one driving day of about 183.2 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Carolina Shores, 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 SC 9 for about 37.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 91.6 miles from Carolina Shores, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 182.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 1168 / Country Club Drive
Turn right onto SR 1168 / Country Club Drive
Navigation decision point
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward SC 31, Loris, Myrtle Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 31, Loris, Myrtle Beach
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
SC 9 / Highway 9 East
Merge onto SC 9 / Highway 9 East
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
156.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
US 74; US 601 / East Roosevelt Boulevard
At end of road, turn slight left onto US 74; US 601 / East Roosevelt Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
182.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.65 one way
$57.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.32 | $62.65 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.91 | $67.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.45 | $80.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 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 | 55 | 0 | $19.24 | $8.79 |
| Efficient EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.03 | $7.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.65 | $11.72 |
Gas CO2
64 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
Charlotte, NC
Afternoon in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
3:12 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
2 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
3h 59m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
183.2 mi in 3h 59m — 43% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: SC 9.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.4 mi on SC 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SR 1168 / Country Club Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 183.2 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 0.2 miles (SR 1168 / Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles (SC 9 / Highway 9 East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
763 ft
34 ft
Total Climb
783 ft
Total Descent
66 ft
Highest Point
763 ft
~183.2 mi in
Elevation Range
729 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Charlotte, NC
Full guide →Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas. Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 183.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.4 miles on SC 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Charlotte, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SR 1168 / Country Club Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles (SC 9 / Highway 9 East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Charlotte, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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