Origin
Chapel Hill, NC
Afternoon in Chapel Hill on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chapel Hill, NC to Oak Island, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 46m
Distance
366.9 mi
591 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 37m
★
6 AM
7h 47m
8 AM
8h 5m
10 AM
7h 53m
12 PM
7h 51m
3 PM
7h 54m
5 PM
8h 4m
8 PM
7h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chapel Hill, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Island, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 366.9 miles and takes about 7h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chapel Hill Road, Guntertown Road, I 26 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.38 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.5 miles from Chapel Hill, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill Road | — | — |
| Guntertown Road | — | — |
| I 26 East | — | — |
| Billy Graham Freeway | — | — |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | — | — |
| US 74 East | — | — |
| Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Chapel Hill Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, NC and Oak Island, NC.
1
Start on the route
26 ft
·
5 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road
1.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
3
Continue on Guntertown Road
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Guntertown Road
4
At the end of the road, turn left
3.5 mi
·
5 min
5
Continue straight
21 mi
·
32 min
6
Take the exit slight right
3.9 mi
·
5 min
7
Continue straight
4.2 mi
·
5 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville
9
Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Billy Graham Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway
26 mi
·
32 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
13
Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
14
Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
15
Continue on James A. Callahan Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
James A. Callahan Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
17
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
19
Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
20
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
21
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
22
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
23
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
24
Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
387 ft
·
11 sec
·
NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
25
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Brookshire Boulevard
26
Continue on Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
27
Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
28
Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
29
Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard
358 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
30
Continue on East Independence Expressway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
31
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
32
Continue on Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
33
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
34
Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
35
Continue on West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
36
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
37
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
38
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
39
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
40
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
41
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
42
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
43
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
44
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
45
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
46
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
47
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
34 mi
·
38 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
48
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
49
Turn right
25 mi
·
34 min
50
Continue on Southport-Supply Road Southeast
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
51
Turn right onto Middleton Street
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Middleton Street
52
Continue on South Middleton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Middleton Avenue
53
Arrive at your destination
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.5 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
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 81 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.5 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Island, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chapel Hill, NC
This is one driving day of about 366.9 miles and 7h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Chapel Hill, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 183.5 miles from Chapel Hill, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.38 one way
$114.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $62.73 | $125.47 |
| premium | $4.70 | $67.91 | $135.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.01 | $162.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.1 | 1 | $38.52 | $17.61 |
| Efficient EV | 91.7 | 1 | $32.10 | $14.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.8 | 1 | $51.37 | $23.48 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Destination
Oak Island, NC
Afternoon in Oak Island on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
29 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
7h 46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
366.9 mi in 7h 46m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Chapel Hill Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Oak Island, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 46m. Total distance: 366.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 46m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Oak Island, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Oak Island, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oak Island, NC before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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