Origin
High Point, NC
Late night in High Point on Saturday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from High Point, NC to Oak Island, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
215.9 mi
347 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Island, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from High Point, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 215.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.3 miles on I 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.76 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
107.9 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 215.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from High Point, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 215.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
922 ft
1 ft
Total Climb
40 ft
Total Descent
961 ft
Highest Point
922 ft
Elevation Range
921 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 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 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 215.9 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
5
211.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m in
|
NC 906 / Middleton Street
Turn right onto NC 906 / Middleton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 72.3 mi | 1h 20m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 44.3 mi | 49m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| NC 211 | 25.4 mi | 34m |
| East Hamlet Avenue | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| Southport-Supply Road Southeast | 9 mi | 12m |
| US 220 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Middleton Street | 4.1 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 Oak Island, 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 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Use 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
34 mi
·
38 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
17
Turn right onto NC 211
25 mi
·
34 min
·
NC 211
18
Continue on NC 211
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto NC 906
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Middleton Street
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on NC 906
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Middleton Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
NC 906
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 107.9 miles from High Point, NC, or about 2h 9m 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 2h 9m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Island, 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 215.9 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.9 mi from High Point, NC · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.9 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 74 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.3 miles.
Arriving in Oak Island, NC
The final approach into Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.76 one way
$67.52 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $36.92 | $73.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $39.96 | $79.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.67 | $95.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.67 | $10.36 |
| Efficient EV | 54 | 0 | $18.89 | $8.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.4 | 1 | $30.23 | $13.82 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Oak Island, NC
Late night in Oak Island on Saturday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
108 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
26 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
4h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from High Point, NC to Oak Island, NC covers 215.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.9 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 $33.76 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 215.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 Oak Island, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1 ft to 922 ft elevation with about 40 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Oak Island, NC
More trips to Oak Island, NC
Explore more options from High Point, NC or browse trips ending in Oak Island, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.