High Point to Sunset Beach is 199.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m via I 74, American Indian Highway, and Andrew Jackson Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region towards the coast. It's a straightforward trip that's manageable in a single day, making it ideal for a quick getaway or an efficient move. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so expect some variety as you head towards the Atlantic.
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
99.9 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
72.3 mi
1h 20m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Andrew Jackson Highway
27.2 mi
29m
New Britton Highway East
17 mi
29m
East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi
16m
Longwood Road Northwest
8.9 mi
18m
US 220
4.8 mi
6m
Seaside Road Southwest
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 72.3 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Sunset Beach, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Russell Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·East Russell Avenue
3
Turn left onto Park Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Park Street
4
Turn right onto East Green Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·East Green Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 74
72 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 220
4.8 mi·6 min·US 220
Exit 22Toward US 220 South: RockinghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
2.5 mi·4 min·West Broad Avenue
9
Continue on US 74 BUS
3.5 mi·5 min·Hamlet Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
466 ft·11 sec·Raleigh Street
11
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
0.3 mi·41 sec·Spring Street
12
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
13 mi·16 min·East Hamlet Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
15
Continue on US 74; NC 130
17 mi·18 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 701 Bypass
1.2 mi·2 min·Powell Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.2 mi·15 sec·Jk Powell Boulevard
19
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.5 mi·51 sec·Powell Boulevard
20
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·South J K Powell Boulevard
21
Turn left onto NC 130
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Love Mill Road
22
Turn straight onto NC 130
1.5 mi·2 min·Vinson Boulevard
23
Continue on NC 130
17 mi·29 min·New Britton Highway East
24
Continue on NC 130
3.2 mi·4 min·Whiteville Road Northwest
25
Turn slight right onto Longwood Road Northwest
8.9 mi·18 min·Longwood Road Northwest
26
Continue on NC 904
3.6 mi·5 min·Seaside Road Southwest
27
Turn right onto NC 179 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·Sunset Boulevard North
28
Enter roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
31 ft·0 sec·Sunset Boulevard South
29
Continue on Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi·46 sec·Sunset Boulevard South
30
Arrive at destination
Sunset Boulevard South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m duration, starting your drive in the morning from High Point will allow ample time to reach Sunset Beach before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you'll take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the longer stretches of highway, to ensure you have enough to reach the next service area. The $31 fuel estimate is a helpful budget point, but always factor in potential price fluctuations. Since this is a single-day trip, you can depart at your convenience but aim to leave early enough to avoid any potential traffic congestion closer to the coast.
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 99.9 miles from High Point, NC, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.3 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.9 miles or 2h 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunset Beach, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving High Point, 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 High Point, NC
This is one driving day of about 199.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from High Point, 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 74 for about 72.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 160 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|East Green Drive
Turn right onto East Green Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in|I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
6
98.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
160 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|US 701 Bypass / Powell Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto US 701 Bypass / Powell Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.24 one way
$62.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$34.16
$68.33
premium
$4.70
$36.98
$73.96
diesel
$5.61
$44.11
$88.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.9
0
$20.98
$9.59
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.48
$7.99
EV Truck/SUV
79.9
0
$27.97
$12.79
Gas CO2
70 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
High Point, NC
Afternoon
in High Point on Saturday
Local time
2:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sunset Beach, NC
Afternoon
in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
2:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
100 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
2 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
4h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 39% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter more surface roads for a significant portion. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 72.3 miles on I 74. You'll transition from highway speeds to more varied speeds as you leave the interstate system. Expect to navigate through areas with more frequent intersections and potentially denser traffic as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near East Green Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 199.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (East Green Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 199.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from High Point, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 199.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, American Indian Highway, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.9 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 $31.24 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 199.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (East Green Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles (US 220): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from High Point, NC to Sunset Beach, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
