Trip from Greenville, NC to Southport, NC

Drive Time

3h 14m

Distance

145.7 mi

234 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 2m ★

6 AM

3h 14m

8 AM

3h 38m

10 AM

3h 22m

12 PM

3h 20m

3 PM

3h 23m

5 PM

3h 36m

8 PM

3h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Greenville, NC

Alex Borelli

Southport, NC

Michael Ken

Trip Overview

The drive from Greenville, NC to Southport, NC covers 145.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Winterville Parkway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.32 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

72.8 miles from Greenville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 14m highway drive covering 145.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Winterville Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.7 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 26 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 30.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Winterville Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 5th Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 145.7 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 0.2 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 105.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 5th Street

At end of road, turn right onto East 5th Street

Navigation decision point

105.4 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtl...

125 mi into trip | ~2h 43m 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

125.3 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | US 17 / Ocean Highway East

Merge onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

144.4 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in | NC 211 / North Howe Street

Turn left onto NC 211 / North Howe Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Greenville, NC to Southport, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

Myrtle Beach

105.4 mi in | ~2h 21m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	30.7 mi	32m
Winterville Parkway	23.5 mi	30m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway	18.7 mi	20m
NC 87	11.8 mi	16m
State Highway 11	11.5 mi	15m
NC 41	10.1 mi	14m
North Front Street	9 mi	12m
North Jackson Street	7.8 mi	11m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 30.7 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Greenville, NC and Southport, NC.

Start on South Summit Street

0.2 mi · 53 sec · South Summit Street

At end of road, turn right onto East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East 5th Street

Turn left onto South Evans Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · South Evans Street

Turn slight right onto US 264 Alternate; NC 43

1.1 mi · 2 min · Greenville Boulevard Southwest

Turn slight left onto NC 11; NC 903

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Memorial Drive

Use the left lane.

Continue on NC 11; NC 903

24 mi · 30 min · Winterville Parkway

Enter roundabout onto NC 11; NC 55

23 ft · 0 sec · NC 11; NC 55

Continue on NC 11; NC 55

0.5 mi · 1 min · NC 11; NC 55

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on NC 11; NC 55

4.5 mi · 7 min · Old Pink Hill Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on NC 11

12 mi · 15 min · State Highway 11

Continue on NC 11

0.8 mi · 1 min · NC 11

Continue on NC 11

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Kinston Boulevard

Turn left onto NC 241

9.0 mi · 12 min · North Front Street

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 41; NC 111

7.8 mi · 11 min · North Jackson Street

Continue on NC 41; NC 50

10 mi · 14 min · NC 41; NC 50

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto I 40

31 mi · 32 min · I 40

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach

Merge onto I 140

19 mi · 20 min · John Jay Burney Jr Freeway

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 17

3.9 mi · 5 min · Ocean Highway East

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto NC 87

12 mi · 16 min · NC 87

Continue on NC 87; NC 133

3.4 mi · 5 min · River Road Southeast

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto NC 211

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Howe Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

NC 211

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 72.8 miles from Greenville, NC, or about 1h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 54m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.8 miles or 1h 45m 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 37m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Greenville, 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 Greenville, NC

This is one driving day of about 145.7 miles and 3h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Greenville, 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 30.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.8 mi from Greenville, NC · 1h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

73 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

Wilmington, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilmington, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.8 miles from Greenville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Southport, NC

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 95.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.32 one way

$46.64 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$25.41	$50.81
premium	$4.78	$27.41	$54.82
diesel	$5.64	$32.37	$64.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.7	$15.30	$6.99
Efficient EV	36.4	$12.75	$5.83
EV Truck/SUV	58.3	$20.40	$9.32

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 2 hours ago

Origin

Greenville, NC

Afternoon in Greenville on Sunday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Partly Sunny

SE 8 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Destination

Southport, NC

Afternoon in Southport on Sunday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Sunny

SE 8 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

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

7 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 14m 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 Greenville, NC to Southport, NC covers 145.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Winterville Parkway, 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 72.8 miles from Greenville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.32 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.

On the drive from Greenville, NC to Southport, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

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Return Trip

Southport, NC to Greenville, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

145.9 mi 3h 14m

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Trip from Greenville, NC to Southport, NC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Southport, NC

National Parks Near This Route

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Greenville, NC

Southport, NC

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 14m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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