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Trip from Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 38m

Distance

174.3 mi

281 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 26m ★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States

Fayetteville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fairplains, NC, NC

Fairplains, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC covers 174.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Hay Street, Bragg Boulevard, Murchison Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.26 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

87.2 miles from Fayetteville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 174.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 38m 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 3h 38m drive with frequent turns across 174.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hay Street 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.

The drive from Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC is easy. At 3h 38m 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 Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hay Street
Bragg Boulevard
Murchison Road
South Bragg Boulevard
North Bragg Boulevard
Sanford Bypass
Boone Trail Road
Isaac Brooks Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Hay Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, NC and Fairplains, NC.

1

Start on Market Square

49 ft · 2 sec · Market Square
2

Exit the rotary onto Hay Street

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Hay Street
3

Turn right onto Bragg Boulevard

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Bragg Boulevard
4

Continue on Murchison Road

8.6 mi · 13 min · Murchison Road
5

Continue on South Bragg Boulevard

0.5 mi · 49 sec · South Bragg Boulevard
6

Keep slight left to continue on North Bragg Boulevard

21 mi · 29 min · North Bragg Boulevard
7

Keep slight left to continue on Sanford Bypass

12 mi · 13 min · Sanford Bypass
8

Continue on Boone Trail Road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Boone Trail Road
9

Continue on Isaac Brooks Highway

43 mi · 52 min · Isaac Brooks Highway
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
12

Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop
13

Keep slight right to continue on Greensboro Urban Loop

6.7 mi · 7 min · Greensboro Urban Loop
14

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem

5.8 mi · 6 min · I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem
15

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

18 mi · 20 min · I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
16

Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Salem Parkway, Yadkinville

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 421: Salem Parkway, Yadkinville
17

Keep slight left to continue on US 421 North: Yadkinville

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 421 North: Yadkinville
18

Merge slight right

45 mi · 51 min
19

Take the exit slight right toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville

0.2 mi · 28 sec · US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
20

Keep slight right to continue on US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville

197 ft · 6 sec · US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
21

Turn slight right onto Statesville Road

2.9 mi · 5 min · Statesville Road
22

Turn right onto 2nd Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street
23

Continue on Sparta Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Sparta Road
24

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 87.2 miles from Fayetteville, NC, or about 1h 49m 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 38 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 87.2 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairplains, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC

This is one driving day of about 174.3 miles and 3h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Fayetteville, 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 87.2 mi from Fayetteville, NC · 1h 49m into the drive

city in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Graham, NC

87 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

Spring Lake, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Graham, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.2 miles from Fayetteville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fairplains, NC

The final approach into Fairplains, 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 Fairplains, 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

$27.26 one way

$54.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $29.80 $59.61
premium $4.70 $32.26 $64.52
diesel $5.61 $38.48 $76.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.3 0 $18.30 $8.37
Efficient EV 43.6 0 $15.25 $6.97
EV Truck/SUV 69.7 0 $24.40 $11.16

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fayetteville, NC

Night in Fayetteville on Friday

Local time

11:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fairplains, NC

Night in Fairplains on Friday

Local time

11:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Graham, NC

87 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

3 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

3h 38m 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 Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC covers 174.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Hay Street, Bragg Boulevard, Murchison Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 87.2 miles from Fayetteville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.26 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.

The drive from Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC is easy. At 3h 38m 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 Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Fayetteville, NC to Fairplains, 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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