Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
189.1 mi
304 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Hickory, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 189.1 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Trade Alley, 2nd Street Northwest, 2nd Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.49 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
94.5 miles from Hickory, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 9m drive with frequent turns across 189.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Trade Alley | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Government Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tate Boulevard Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Hickory, NC and Fayetteville, NC.
Start on the route
Turn left onto Trade Alley
At the end of the road, turn right onto 2nd Street Northwest
Keep slight left to continue on 2nd Street Southwest
Turn left onto Government Avenue Southwest
Continue on 1st Street Southwest
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Southwest
Continue on Tate Boulevard Southeast
Turn right onto Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Southeast
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Sanford
Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford
Continue on Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
Continue straight
Continue on Bragg Boulevard
Turn left onto Hay Street
Enter the roundabout toward Market Square
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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hickory, 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 Hickory, NC
This is one driving day of about 189.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.5 mi from Hickory, NC · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 94.5 miles from Hickory, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$29.49 one way
$58.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $32.97 | $65.95 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.57 | $71.14 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $41.87 | $83.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.86 | $9.08 |
| Efficient EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.55 | $7.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.6 | 0 | $26.47 | $12.10 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Morning in Hickory on Saturday
Local time
9:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
9:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Greensboro, NC
95 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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