Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Forest City, NC to Gastonia, NC

Drive Time

57m

Distance

42.2 mi

68 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Forest City, NC, NC

Forest City, NC

Nino Souza

Downtown Gastonia, NC, NC

Gastonia, NC

Alexey Demidov

Trip Overview

The drive from Forest City, NC to Gastonia, NC covers 42.2 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Dixon Boulevard, Solon David Smart Memorial Highway, Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.4 miles on West Dixon Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.75 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

21.1 miles from Forest City, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 42.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Dixon Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 12.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,014 ft 760 ft

Total Climb

441 ft

Total Descent

652 ft

Highest Point

1,014 ft

Elevation Range

255 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 74 Business; US 221A / East Main Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 57m drive. You will face about 5 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 (US 74 Business; US 221A / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221A / South Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 74 Business; US 221A / East Main Street

Turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A / East Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 221A / South Broadway Street

Turn right onto US 221A / South Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

3
1.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

3
1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 74 / Solon David Smart Memorial Highway

Merge onto US 74 / Solon David Smart Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
13.5 mi into trip | ~18m in | US 74 / West Dixon Boulevard

Take the exit onto US 74 / West Dixon Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Dixon Boulevard 12.4 mi 17m
Solon David Smart Memorial Highway 11.7 mi 13m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway 6.8 mi 7m
West Franklin Boulevard 4.2 mi 6m
Kings Mountain Highway 3.4 mi 5m
Andrew Jackson Highway 1.8 mi 2m
South Broadway Street 1.4 mi 3m
East Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: West Dixon Boulevard — 12.4 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, NC and Gastonia, NC.

1

Start on Cherry Mountain Street

54 ft · 3 sec · Cherry Mountain Street
2

Turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A

0.2 mi · 53 sec · East Main Street
3

Turn right onto US 221A

1.4 mi · 3 min · South Broadway Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
5

Merge onto US 74

12 mi · 13 min · Solon David Smart Memorial Highway
6

Take the exit onto US 74

12 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on US 74

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
8

Continue on US 74

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn straight onto US 74

3.4 mi · 5 min · Kings Mountain Highway
10

Continue on US 29; US 74

4.2 mi · 6 min · West Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Arrive at destination

US 29; US 74; NC 274

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 21.1 miles from Forest City, NC, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 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 42.2 miles or 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 21.1 miles or 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Forest City, 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 Forest City, NC

This is one driving day of about 42.2 miles and 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Forest City, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on West Dixon Boulevard for about 12.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.1 mi from Forest City, NC · 28m into the drive

Downtown Boiling Springs, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boiling Springs, NC

21 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

Belmont, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boiling Springs, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Forest City, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gastonia, NC

The final approach into Gastonia, 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 Gastonia, 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

$6.75 one way

$13.51 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $7.36 $14.72
premium $4.78 $7.94 $15.88
diesel $5.64 $9.38 $18.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.7 0 $4.43 $2.03
Efficient EV 10.6 0 $3.69 $1.69
EV Truck/SUV 16.9 0 $5.91 $2.70

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 data refreshed 14 hours ago

Origin

Forest City, NC

Evening in Forest City on Sunday

Local time

5:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Mostly Clear

N 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 11 at 7:52PM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Destination

Gastonia, NC

Evening in Gastonia on Sunday

Local time

5:18 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Clear

NNE 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 11 at 7:52PM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Along the Route

63°F

Boiling Springs, NC

21 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

1 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

57m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Forest City, NC to Gastonia, NC covers 42.2 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Dixon Boulevard, Solon David Smart Memorial Highway, Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.1 miles from Forest City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 57m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 74 Business; US 221A / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 221A / South Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Forest City, NC to Gastonia, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 760 ft to 1,014 ft elevation with about 441 ft of total climbing.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Gastonia, NC to Forest City, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

42.1 mi 57m

Continue From Gastonia, NC

Wilmington, NC 219.7 mi · 4h 31m Clayton, NC 200.8 mi · 3h 56m Mebane, NC 138.7 mi · 2h 43m Aberdeen, NC 118.3 mi · 2h 34m

More from Forest City, NC

Greenville, NC 309 mi · 6h Jacksonville, NC 304.5 mi · 6h 27m Wilmington, NC 262.4 mi · 5h 25m Cary, NC 220.2 mi · 4h 21m Raleigh, NC 209.9 mi · 3h 46m Durham, NC 203.2 mi · 4h 1m

More trips to Gastonia, NC

Greenville, NC 270.5 mi Wilson, NC 233.6 mi Wilmington, NC 219.6 mi Whiteville, NC 193.7 mi Butner, NC 175.6 mi Durham, NC 163.7 mi

Explore more options from Forest City, NC or browse trips ending in Gastonia, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.

Explore maps for Forest City, NC or Gastonia, NC on MapSof.net.