Origin
Durham, NC
Morning in Durham on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, NC to Shallotte, NC
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
189.5 mi
305 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shallotte, NC
Zachary Andre
Trip Overview
The drive from Durham, NC to Shallotte, NC covers 189.5 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Ocean Highway East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.6 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.33 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
94.7 miles from Durham, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 37m highway drive covering 189.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Ocean Highway East. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.6 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 123.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Ocean Highway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Fayetteville Road.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 189.5 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 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Fayetteville Road
Turn right onto Fayetteville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
8
39.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
8
164.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Towns Along This Route
Between Durham, NC and Shallotte, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
Wilmington
41.4 mi in
|
~49m
|
via I 40
Myrtle Beach
144.9 mi in
|
~2h 40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 123.6 mi | 2h 13m |
| Ocean Highway East | 23 mi | 30m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Dillard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 123.6 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Shallotte, NC.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Dillard Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Dillard Street
3
Turn left onto East Pettigrew Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Pettigrew Street
4
Turn right onto Fayetteville Road
472 ft
·
22 sec
·
Fayetteville Road
5
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Durham Freeway
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
8
Merge slight right
8.7 mi
·
10 min
9
Keep slight left
9.5 mi
·
10 min
10
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
12
Keep slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
14
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
15
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
17
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
19
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
23 mi
·
30 min
·
Ocean Highway East
20
Turn left onto Main Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
21
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mulberry Street
22
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 94.7 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.6 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.7 miles or 1h 46m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shallotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Durham, 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 Durham, NC
This is one driving day of about 189.5 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Durham, 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 123.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.7 mi from Durham, NC · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 94.7 miles from Durham, 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 123.6 miles.
Arriving in Shallotte, NC
The final approach into Shallotte, 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 Shallotte, NC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.33 one way
$60.65 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $33.04 | $66.09 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.65 | $71.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.10 | $84.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.90 | $9.10 |
| Efficient EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.58 | $7.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.8 | 0 | $26.53 | $12.13 |
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
Shallotte, NC
Morning in Shallotte on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
2 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
3h 37m 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 Durham, NC to Shallotte, NC covers 189.5 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Ocean Highway East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.7 miles from Durham, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.33 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 189.5 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 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Durham, NC and Shallotte, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
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