Origin
Charlotte, NC
Late night in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, NC to Richlands, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 55m
Distance
228.4 mi
368 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 42m
★
6 AM
4h 55m
8 AM
5h 22m
10 AM
5h 5m
12 PM
5h 2m
3 PM
5h 6m
5 PM
5h 21m
8 PM
4h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Richlands, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Charlotte, NC to Richlands, NC covers 228.4 miles and takes about 4h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, NC 24, Fayetteville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.3 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.72 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.2 miles from Charlotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 228.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Charlotte, NC to Richlands, NC covers 228.4 miles and takes about 4h 55m, 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 50 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.3 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 4.6 miles in near US 74 / East Independence Boulevard.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 228.4 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 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; at 32.5 miles (US 74 / Carroll M. Edwards Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 30 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
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.
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 Richlands, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington, Asheboro, Goldsboro and Kenansville.
Wilmington
13.7 mi in
|
~19m
|
via US 74 BYP
Asheboro
64.2 mi in
|
~1h 27m
|
via US 74 BUS
Goldsboro
141.7 mi in
|
~3h 6m
|
via US 13
Kenansville
198.6 mi in
|
~4h 12m
|
via NC 24
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| NC 24 | 23.3 mi | 33m |
| Fayetteville Road | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| Fayetteville Outer Loop | 21.7 mi | 24m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Plank Road | 13.1 mi | 18m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 10.2 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 31.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Richlands, 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
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Raeford Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Take the exit
113 ft
·
3 sec
35
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
Exit 12
Toward I 295 North: Fort Bragg
36
Merge onto I 295
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Fayetteville Outer Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on US 13
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Goldsboro Road
Toward US 13 North: Newton Grove, Goldsboro
38
Keep slight right at fork onto US 13
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Goldsboro Road
39
Continue on US 13
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Fayetteville Highway
40
Continue on US 13
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Newton Grove Highway
41
Turn left onto Warren Mill Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Warren Mill Road
42
Turn right onto NC 55
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harnett-Dunn Highway
43
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
44
Merge onto I 40
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40
45
Take the exit onto NC 24
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
NC 24
Toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
46
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
South Kenansville Bypass
47
Turn right onto NC 24
23 mi
·
32 min
·
NC 24
48
Turn left onto West Franck Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Franck Street
49
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
189 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
50
Arrive at destination
South Wilmington 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 114.2 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 50 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.2 miles or 2h 32m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richlands, 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 228.4 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 I 40 for about 31.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.2 mi from Charlotte, NC · 2h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114.2 miles from Charlotte, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richlands, NC
The final approach into Richlands, 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 Richlands, 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
$35.72 one way
$71.43 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.05 | $78.11 |
| premium | $4.70 | $42.27 | $84.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.43 | $100.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.98 | $10.96 |
| Efficient EV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.99 | $9.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.98 | $14.62 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Richlands, NC
Late night in Richlands on Saturday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
4 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
4h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Richlands, NC covers 228.4 miles and takes about 4h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, NC 24, Fayetteville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.2 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 $35.72 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 228.4 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 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; at 32.5 miles (US 74 / Carroll M. Edwards Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Charlotte, NC and Richlands, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington, Asheboro, Goldsboro and Kenansville.
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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