The drive from Charlotte, NC to Laurel Hill, NC covers 87.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Monroe Expressway, Andrew Jackson Highway, G R Kindley Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.7 miles on Monroe Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.62 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.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Charlotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 87.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Charlotte, NC to Laurel Hill, NC covers 87.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m, 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 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Monroe Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.4 miles in near East 5th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (East 5th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (US 74 / East Independence Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|East 5th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto East 5th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|US 74 / East Independence Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / East Independence Boulevard toward US 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 74 East
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...
5
32.5 mi into trip|~41m in|US 74 / Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Merge onto US 74 / Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
64.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charlotte, NC to Laurel Hill, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
Wilmington
13.7 mi in|~19m|via US 74 BYP
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi
21m
Andrew Jackson Highway
18.2 mi
23m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
6m
US 74
3.5 mi
4m
West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
5m
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Monroe Expressway
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Laurel Hill, 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 ExpresswayUse 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 255Toward US 74 Toll Bypass East: Rockingham, WilmingtonUse 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 left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
20
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 74
6.9 mi·8 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
22
Turn left onto NC 144
228 ft·6 sec·Morgan Street
23
Turn right onto Malloy Avenue
20 ft·0 sec·Malloy Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Malloy Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.6 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel Hill, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlotte, NC
This is one driving day of about 87.1 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Charlotte, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Monroe Expressway for about 18.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.6 mi from Charlotte, NC
· 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.62 one way
$27.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.89
$29.79
premium
$4.70
$16.12
$32.24
diesel
$5.61
$19.23
$38.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.1
0
$9.15
$4.18
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.62
$3.48
EV Truck/SUV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charlotte, NC
Night
in Charlotte on Friday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laurel Hill, NC
Night
in Laurel Hill on Friday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
5 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 53m 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 Laurel Hill, NC covers 87.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Monroe Expressway, Andrew Jackson Highway, G R Kindley Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.6 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 $13.62 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (East 5th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (US 74 / East Independence Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
On the drive from Charlotte, NC to Laurel Hill, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
