Origin
High Point, NC
Morning in High Point on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from High Point, NC to Fruitland, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
166.2 mi
267 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fruitland, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from High Point, NC to Fruitland, NC covers 166.2 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 74, NC 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.99 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
83.1 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 166.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 24m highway drive covering 166.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 74. The longest continuous stretch is about 122.9 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 18 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 122.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,215 ft
694 ft
Total Climb
1,606 ft
Total Descent
314 ft
Highest Point
2,215 ft
~166.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,521 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 74. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 74.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 166.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.8 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 74
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74 toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
149.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
NC 9
At end of road, turn left onto NC 9
Navigation decision point
5
159.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
|
Slick Rock Road
At end of road, turn left onto Slick Rock Road
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between High Point, NC and Fruitland, NC, road signs point toward Statesville and Old Fort.
Statesville
13.5 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 74
Old Fort
137.4 mi in
|
~2h 40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 122.9 mi | 2h 17m |
| I 74 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| NC 9 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Bat Cave Road | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| Old Clear Creek Road | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| Old Fort Road | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 3.9 mi | 8m |
| Chimney Rock Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 122.9 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Fruitland, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
3.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Merge onto I 74
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 74
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
5
Merge onto I 40
123 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Old Fort
7
Turn left onto Catawba Avenue
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Catawba Avenue
8
Continue on Bat Cave Road
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Bat Cave Road
9
Continue on Old Fort Road
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Fort Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto Old Fort Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Fort Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto NC 9
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
NC 9
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 74A; NC 9
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Gerton Highway
13
Continue on US 64
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Chimney Rock Road
14
Turn right onto Slick Rock Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Slick Rock Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto Slick Rock Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Slick Rock Road
16
Turn left onto Grant Mountain Road
441 ft
·
6 sec
·
Grant Mountain Road
17
Continue on Old Clear Creek Road
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Old Clear Creek Road
18
Arrive at destination
Old Clear Creek Road
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 83.1 miles from High Point, NC, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.9 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.1 miles or 1h 39m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fruitland, 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 166.2 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 40 for about 122.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.1 mi from High Point, NC · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.1 miles from High Point, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.9 miles.
Arriving in Fruitland, NC
The final approach into Fruitland, 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 Fruitland, NC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.99 one way
$51.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.42 | $56.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.76 | $61.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.69 | $73.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.45 | $7.98 |
| Efficient EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.54 | $6.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.27 | $10.64 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Fruitland, NC
Morning in Fruitland on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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 24m 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 Fruitland, NC covers 166.2 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 74, NC 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.1 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 $25.99 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 166.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.8 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between High Point, NC and Fruitland, NC, road signs point toward Statesville and Old Fort.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 694 ft to 2,215 ft elevation with about 1,606 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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