Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
198.6 mi
320 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Michael Ken
The drive from Greensboro, NC to Southport, NC covers 198.6 miles and takes about 4h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Greene Street, West McGee Street, South Davie Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.78 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
99.3 miles from Greensboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 27m drive with frequent turns across 198.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 27m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Greensboro, NC to Southport, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Greene Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West McGee Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Davie Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 421 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway) | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Filter Plant Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ames Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Greensboro, NC and Southport, NC.
Start on West Market Street
Turn right onto South Greene Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West McGee Street
Exit the roundabout onto West McGee Street
Continue on South Davie Street
Turn slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Continue on Old US Highway 421
Continue straight
Continue on Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
Continue straight
Turn right onto Filter Plant Drive
Continue on Ames Street
Turn left onto Bragg Boulevard
Take the ramp right toward US 401 Business South, NC 87 South
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Freeway
Continue straight
Merge slight right onto Andrew Jackson Highway
Take the exit straight
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
Take the exit slight left
Continue on River Road Southeast
Turn left onto North Howe Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Greensboro, 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 Greensboro, NC
This is one driving day of about 198.6 miles and 4h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.3 mi from Greensboro, NC · 2h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.3 miles from Greensboro, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Southport, 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 Southport, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.78 one way
$63.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $34.63 | $69.26 |
| premium | $4.78 | $37.36 | $74.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.12 | $88.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.85 | $9.53 |
| Efficient EV | 49.7 | 0 | $17.38 | $7.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.80 | $12.71 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Greensboro on Saturday
Local time
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Southport on Saturday
Local time
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Fayetteville, NC
99 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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