Origin
Gastonia, NC
Morning in Gastonia on Saturday
Local time
10:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
229.1 mi
369 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gastonia, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Island, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 229.1 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Broad Street, East Long Avenue, East Ozark Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.83 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
114.6 miles from Gastonia, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 229.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m 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 4h 46m drive with frequent turns across 229.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Broad 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Broad Street | — | — |
| East Long Avenue | — | — |
| East Ozark Avenue | — | — |
| I 85 North | — | — |
| Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway | — | — |
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | — | — |
| NC 16 | — | — |
| NC 16 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gastonia, NC and Oak Island, NC.
1
Start on West Franklin Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Franklin Boulevard
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Broad Street
3
Turn right onto East Long Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Long Avenue
4
Continue on East Ozark Avenue
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Ozark Avenue
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 85 North
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 85 North
6
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
7
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
8
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
9
Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
387 ft
·
11 sec
·
NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
10
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Brookshire Boulevard
11
Continue on Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
12
Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
13
Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
14
Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard
358 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
15
Continue on East Independence Expressway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Independence Expressway
16
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
17
Continue on Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
18
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
19
Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
20
Continue on West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
21
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
22
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
23
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
24
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
25
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
26
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
28
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
29
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
30
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
31
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
32
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
34 mi
·
38 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
33
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
34
Turn right
25 mi
·
34 min
35
Continue on Southport-Supply Road Southeast
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
36
Turn right onto Middleton Street
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Middleton Street
37
Continue on South Middleton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Middleton Avenue
38
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 114.6 miles from Gastonia, NC, or about 2h 23m 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.6 miles or 2h 23m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Island, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gastonia, 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 Gastonia, NC
This is one driving day of about 229.1 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Gastonia, 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 114.6 mi from Gastonia, NC · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114.6 miles from Gastonia, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oak Island, NC
The final approach into Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, 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
$35.83 one way
$71.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.17 | $78.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $42.40 | $84.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.58 | $101.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.06 | $11.00 |
| Efficient EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.05 | $9.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.6 | 1 | $32.07 | $14.66 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Oak Island, NC
Morning in Oak Island on Saturday
Local time
10:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
115 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
26 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
4h 46m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 229.1 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Broad Street, East Long Avenue, East Ozark Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.6 miles from Gastonia, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.83 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gastonia, NC to Oak Island, 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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