Origin
High Point, NC
Late night in High Point on Thursday
Local time
12:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 8m
Distance
301 mi
484 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 56m
★
6 AM
6h 9m
8 AM
6h 34m
10 AM
6h 18m
12 PM
6h 15m
3 PM
6h 19m
5 PM
6h 33m
8 PM
6h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Shores, NC
Scott Platt
Trip Overview
The drive from High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC covers 301 miles and takes about 6h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 29, I 40 East, Wade Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.07 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
150.5 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 8m drive with frequent turns across 301 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 29 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 29 | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
| Wade Avenue | — | — |
| I 440 East | — | — |
| I 87 North | — | — |
| Highway 64 East | — | — |
| South Virginia Dare Trail | — | — |
| South Croatan Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 29
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Southern Shores, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
2
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
3
Merge slight left
8.5 mi
·
9 min
4
Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 29, US 70
5
Keep slight left
37 mi
·
42 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh
30 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40 East: Raleigh
7
Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Wade Avenue
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
9
Merge slight left
9.2 mi
·
11 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
11
Merge slight right
17 mi
·
17 min
12
Keep slight left
80 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
13
Turn right
20 mi
·
28 min
14
Continue on United States Highway 64 East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
United States Highway 64 East
15
Continue on U.S. Highway 64 East
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
U.S. Highway 64 East
16
Continue on United States Highway 64 East
40 mi
·
47 min
·
United States Highway 64 East
17
Keep slight right
26 mi
·
35 min
18
Continue on South Virginia Dare Trail
515 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Virginia Dare Trail
19
Continue on South Croatan Highway
15 mi
·
23 min
·
South Croatan Highway
20
Take the exit slight right
269 ft
·
8 sec
21
Turn straight onto Ocean Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ocean Boulevard
22
Turn straight onto Duck Road
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Duck Road
23
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
3rd Avenue
24
Continue on 3rd Avenue
256 ft
·
16 sec
·
3rd Avenue
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.5 miles from High Point, NC, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
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 66 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southern Shores, 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 301 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.5 mi from High Point, NC · 3h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.5 miles from High Point, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southern Shores, NC
The final approach into Southern Shores, 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 Southern Shores, 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
$47.07 one way
$94.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $51.47 | $102.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $55.71 | $111.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.46 | $132.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.60 | $14.45 |
| Efficient EV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.34 | $12.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.4 | 1 | $42.14 | $19.26 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Southern Shores, NC
Late night in Southern Shores on Thursday
Local time
12:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
17 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
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Southern Shores, NC covers 301 miles and takes about 6h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 29, I 40 East, Wade Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.5 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 $47.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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