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
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
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 SC 9, NC 742, US 52 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.2 miles on SC 9. 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 3m into the drive .
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 (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 4h 14m highway drive covering 187.3 miles, with most of the trip on SC 9 and NC 742. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.2 miles on SC 9.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SC 9 and NC 742. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Corban Avenue Southwest.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 187.3 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.9 miles (US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 15; US 401; SC 9; SC 38 / Harris Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SC 9 | 61.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| NC 742 | 22.3 mi | 30m |
| US 52 | 21.2 mi | 24m |
| US 1 | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| East Main Street | 12.5 mi | 18m |
| Warren C. Coleman Boulevard | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| NC 24 | 8.6 mi | 13m |
| Nichols Highway | 7.3 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Sunset Beach, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Continue on NC 73
Turn right onto NC 3
Continue on NC 3
Turn slight left onto US 601; NC 73 Truck
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Turn right onto NC 205
Continue on NC 742
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 52
Turn left onto US 52 Truck; SC 9 Truck
Turn left onto US 1; SC 9
Turn right onto SC 9; SC 38
At end of road, turn left onto US 15; US 401; SC 9; SC 38
Turn right onto SC 9
Turn right onto US 301; US 501; SC 9
Turn left onto SC 9
Continue on SC 9
Turn right onto SC 9
Continue on SC 9
At end of road, turn left onto US 76; SC 9
Continue on US 76; SC 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
Turn straight onto SC 9
Turn straight onto S-26-20
Turn left onto SC 90
Turn right onto US 17
Turn slight right onto SC 179
Continue on NC 179
Continue on NC 179 Business
Continue on NC 179 Business
Turn left onto NC 179 Business
Enter roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
Continue on Sunset Boulevard South
Arrive at destination
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.
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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 2h 3m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunset Beach, NC than in the middle of the route.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.6 mi from Concord, NC · 2h 3m 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.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 93.6 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before SC 9 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$29.29 one way
$58.58 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Concord on Saturday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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