Origin
Concord, NC
Morning in Concord on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
187.3 mi
301 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Sunset Beach, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 187.3 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Corban Avenue Southwest, Corban Avenue Southeast, Branchview Drive Southeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.29 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
93.6 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 14m drive with frequent turns across 187.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Corban Avenue Southwest 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 14m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Corban Avenue Southwest | — | — |
| Corban Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| Branchview Drive Southeast | — | — |
| Union Street South | — | — |
| Warren C | — | — |
| W | — | — |
| Salisbury Street | — | — |
| West Caswell Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Corban Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Sunset Beach, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Corban Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Corban Avenue Southeast
4
Turn right onto Branchview Drive Southeast
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Branchview Drive Southeast
5
Continue on Union Street South
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Union Street South
6
Turn slight left onto Warren C. Coleman Boulevard
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Warren C. Coleman Boulevard
7
Turn left
8.6 mi
·
13 min
8
Turn right
4.3 mi
·
7 min
9
Continue straight
22 mi
·
30 min
10
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
11
Turn left onto W. Cliff Martin Highway
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
13
Continue on West Caswell Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Caswell Street
14
Continue straight
21 mi
·
24 min
15
Turn left onto Front Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street
16
Turn left
13 mi
·
14 min
17
Turn right onto Cottingham Boulevard North
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cottingham Boulevard North
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Harris Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Harris Street
19
Turn right
24 mi
·
28 min
20
Turn right onto US Highway 301 North
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 301 North
21
Turn left onto East Main Street
12 mi
·
18 min
·
East Main Street
22
Continue on West 3rd Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Avenue
23
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
24
Continue on Nichols Highway
7.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Nichols Highway
25
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Nichols Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Nichols Street
26
Continue on Highway 76
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 76
27
Keep slight right
24 mi
·
30 min
28
Turn straight
13 mi
·
17 min
29
Turn straight onto Sea Mountain Highway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Sea Mountain Highway
30
Turn left onto Highway 90
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 90
31
Turn right onto US Highway 17
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 17
32
Turn slight right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
33
Continue on Beach Drive Southwest
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Beach Drive Southwest
34
Continue on Beach Drive Southwest
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Beach Drive Southwest
35
Continue on Shoreline Drive West
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Shoreline Drive West
36
Turn left onto Sunset Boulevard North
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
37
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Sunset Boulevard South
230 ft
·
5 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard South
38
Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard South
39
Arrive at your destination
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 93.6 miles from Concord, NC, or about 2h 7m 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 41 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 2h 7m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunset Beach, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Concord, 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 Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Concord, 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 93.6 mi from Concord, NC · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.6 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sunset Beach, NC
The final approach into Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach, 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
$29.29 one way
$58.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $32.03 | $64.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.67 | $69.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.35 | $82.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.67 | $8.99 |
| Efficient EV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.9 | 0 | $26.22 | $11.99 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Sunset Beach, NC
Morning in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
4h 14m 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 Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 187.3 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Corban Avenue Southwest, Corban Avenue Southeast, Branchview Drive Southeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.6 miles from Concord, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.29 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 14m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Concord, NC to Sunset Beach, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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