Origin
High Point, NC
Evening in High Point on Thursday
Local time
8:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from High Point, NC to Southmont, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
43m
Distance
31 mi
50 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This short 31-mile drive from High Point, NC to Southmont, NC takes about 43 minutes to complete and is easily manageable as a day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at just $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Southeast region. The route utilizes a mix of main roads including Richard Childress Freeway and Cotton Grove Road, with 55% of the drive on highways. It offers a straightforward travel experience, making it ideal for those looking for a simple, direct connection between these two North Carolina locations. No overnight stays are recommended, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 31 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this 31-mile route, with a significant 55% of the journey occurring on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10 miles on the Richard Childress Freeway, providing a period of steady travel. As you transition from the freeway, you'll navigate roads like Cotton Grove Road and US 29, which will likely offer a different driving pace. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway segments and potentially more local road conditions as you approach Southmont. The road's personality shifts, offering a varied driving experience.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Richard Childress Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 10 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Surrett Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Surrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (I 85 / Richard Childress Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Surrett Drive
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 29
Merge onto US 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 85 / Richard Childress Freeway
Merge onto I 85 / Richard Childress Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91
Toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
6
22.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
NC 8 / Cotton Grove Road
Turn left onto NC 8 / Cotton Grove Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Childress Freeway | 10 mi | 10m |
| Cotton Grove Road | 8 mi | 13m |
| US 29 | 7 mi | 7m |
| Baptist Childrens Home Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lexington Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Market Center Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mount Calvary Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Richard Childress Freeway
— 10 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Southmont, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto West Market Center Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Market Center Drive
3
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Surrett Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
5
Merge onto US 29
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 29
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Mount Calvary Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Mount Calvary Road
8
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Avenue
9
Turn right onto Baptist Childrens Home Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Baptist Childrens Home Road
10
Continue on Lake Road
353 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lake Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
12
Merge onto I 85
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Richard Childress Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 91
Toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
14
Turn left onto NC 8
8.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Cotton Grove Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.85 one way
$9.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.30 | $10.60 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.74 | $11.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.84 | $13.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Southmont, NC
Evening in Southmont on Thursday
Local time
8:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from High Point, NC to Southmont, NC covers 31 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Richard Childress Freeway, Cotton Grove Road, US 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.5 miles from High Point, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.85 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Surrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (I 85 / Richard Childress Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from High Point, NC to Southmont, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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