Origin
Charlotte, NC
Night in Charlotte on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, NC to Clinton, NC
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 48m
Distance
164.3 mi
264 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 36m
★
6 AM
3h 49m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 55m
3 PM
3h 59m
5 PM
4h 13m
8 PM
3h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Clinton, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlotte, NC to Clinton, NC covers 164.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Fayetteville Road, Monroe Expressway, Grove Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.8 miles on Fayetteville Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.69 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
82.1 miles from Charlotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 48m drive with frequent turns across 164.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Fayetteville Road is the longest continuous segment at about 21.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in near US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 164.3 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 13.7 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.2 miles (US 74 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles (US 1 / Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
13.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilm...
9
64.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
US 74 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 BUS toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business Ea...
6
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
US 1 / Fayetteville Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 1 / Fayetteville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
128.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
|
Hay Street
Turn right onto Hay Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
130.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
|
NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlotte, NC and Clinton, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Asheboro.
Wilmington
13.7 mi in
|
~19m
|
via US 74 BYP
Asheboro
64.2 mi in
|
~1h 27m
|
via US 74 BUS
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville Road | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Grove Street | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Plank Road | 13.1 mi | 18m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Roseboro Highway | 11.5 mi | 15m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
| South Raeford Road | 9.5 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Fayetteville Road
— 21.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Clinton, NC.
1
Start on South Tryon Street
488 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Tryon Street
2
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
East 5th Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto East 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 5th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward NC 27 East, US 74 East
5
Continue on US 74; NC 27
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 74; NC 27
Toward US 74 East: Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
357 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
Toward US 74 East
7
Continue on US 74
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
Exit 255
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, Wilmington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 74
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
13
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
16
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
17
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
18
Continue on US 74
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 BUS
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 74 BUS
Exit 306
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto West Green Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Green Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Fayetteville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Addor Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Addor Road
23
Continue on Addor Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Addor Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto Ashemont Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Ashemont Road
25
Enter roundabout onto Ashemont Road
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ashemont Road
26
Continue on Ashemont Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Ashemont Road
27
Keep slight left at fork onto Ashemont Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ashemont Road
28
Continue on Army Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Army Road
29
Continue on Plank Road
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Plank Road
30
Turn right onto Wayside Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wayside Road
31
Turn left onto US 401
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Fayetteville Road
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 401
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Raeford Road
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on US 401
9.5 mi
·
15 min
·
South Raeford Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Continue on Arsenal Avenue
362 ft
·
11 sec
·
Arsenal Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Highland Avenue
36
Turn right onto Hay Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hay Street
Use the right lane.
37
Enter roundabout onto Person Street
214 ft
·
5 sec
·
Person Street
38
Continue on Person Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Person Street
39
Continue on Person Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Person Street
40
Enter roundabout onto B Street
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
B Street
41
Continue on B Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
B Street
42
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 210
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Grove Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Continue on NC 24
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Autry Highway
44
Continue on NC 24
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Autry Hwy
45
Continue on NC 24
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Roseboro Highway
46
Continue on NC 24
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Sunset Avenue
Use the straight lane.
47
Continue on Fayetteville Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Fayetteville Street
48
Turn left onto Main Street
332 ft
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
49
Arrive at destination
Main 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 82.1 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.8 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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.1 miles or 1h 49m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC
This is one driving day of about 164.3 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charlotte, 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 Fayetteville Road for about 21.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.1 mi from Charlotte, NC · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 82.1 miles from Charlotte, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clinton, NC
The final approach into Clinton, 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 Clinton, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.69 one way
$51.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.09 | $56.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.41 | $60.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.28 | $72.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair
Food Lion - Tuckaseegee
Charlotte, NC
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
FasCharge 17385 Market Express Shell Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
RED_E
2 DCFC
eVgo Network: 1
RED_E: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.25 | $7.89 |
| Efficient EV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.38 | $6.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.7 | 0 | $23.00 | $10.52 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Clinton, NC
Night in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°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
26 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
3h 48m 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 Charlotte, NC to Clinton, NC covers 164.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Fayetteville Road, Monroe Expressway, Grove Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.1 miles from Charlotte, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 24 significant decision points across 164.3 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 13.7 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.2 miles (US 74 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles (US 1 / Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Charlotte, NC and Clinton, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Asheboro.
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