Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
103.9 mi
167 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Drexel, NC
Curtis Adams
Drexel, NC to High Point, NC is 103.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m via I 40 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, it's an efficient option for moving between these locations. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a predictable journey for anyone needing to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Drexel, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 103.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 91% of the journey on major interstates like I 40 and I 74. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 84.6 miles on I 40, indicating significant time spent at highway speeds. The route transitions from its starting point on I 40 and then merges onto I 74, before concluding on local roads like North Main Street as you approach High Point. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip, with minimal slowdowns until the final approach.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 114 / South Main Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 114 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (Flat Gap Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto NC 114 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto Flat Gap Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 East: High Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 84.6 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 74 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| North Main Street | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| Jacumin Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Messer Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Flat Gap Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 70 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Drexel, NC and High Point, NC.
Start on Mimosa Avenue
Turn left onto NC 114
Turn left onto US 70
Turn right onto Messer Road
Continue on Jacumin Road
At end of road, turn left onto Flat Gap Road
Continue on Millstone Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit onto I 74
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on North Main Street
Arrive at destination
Since this drive is just over two hours and primarily highway, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave Drexel, NC in the morning will allow you to arrive in High Point well before the evening rush. With only a $16 fuel cost and no designated stops, you can easily complete this trip on a single tank of gas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you pass the 84.6-mile mark on I 40, as that's the longest stretch where services might be less frequent before you merge onto I 74.
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.
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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 2m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Drexel, 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 Drexel, NC
This is one driving day of about 103.9 miles and 2h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52 mi from Drexel, NC · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 52 miles from Drexel, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.6 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$16.25 one way
$32.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.77 | $35.53 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.23 | $38.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.94 | $45.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.55 | $6.65 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Drexel on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in High Point on Friday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
48°F
Mocksville, NC
52 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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