Origin
Columbus, NC
Morning in Columbus on Monday
Local time
11:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
156.7 mi
252 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, NC
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC covers 156.7 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 74 East, Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway, James A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.08 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
78.3 miles from Columbus, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 156.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 74 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 74 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James A | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Dixon Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Senator J | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 74 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on East Mills Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Mills Street
2
Take the ramp right toward US 74 East: Forest City
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 74 East: Forest City
3
Merge slight left onto Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
4
Continue on James A. Callahan Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
James A. Callahan Highway
5
Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Dixon Boulevard
6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
8
Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
10
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
11
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
59 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem
13
Keep slight right to continue on US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
14
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
2 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
16
Take the exit slight right toward South Main Street, Archdale
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Main Street, Archdale
17
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
18
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.3 miles from Columbus, NC, or about 1h 18m 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, NC
This is one driving day of about 156.7 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbus, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.3 mi from Columbus, NC · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 78.3 miles from Columbus, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in High Point, NC
The final approach into High Point, 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 High Point, 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
$25.08 one way
$50.16 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $27.32 | $54.65 |
| premium | $4.78 | $29.48 | $58.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.81 | $69.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47 | 0 | $16.45 | $7.52 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.71 | $6.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
High Point, NC
Morning in High Point on Monday
Local time
11:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 36m 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 Columbus, NC to High Point, NC covers 156.7 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 74 East, Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway, James A. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.3 miles from Columbus, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.08 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbus, NC to High Point, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From High Point, NC
More trips to High Point, NC
Explore more options from Columbus, NC or browse trips ending in High Point, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Columbus, NC or High Point, NC on MapSof.net.