Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
67.5 mi
109 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Photo: Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Jacksonville, NC to Goldsboro, NC covers 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 70, Kinston Highway, Richlands Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.7 miles on US 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.80 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
33.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 35m drive with frequent turns across 67.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
221 ft
Total Descent
129 ft
Highest Point
142 ft
~33.7 mi in
Elevation Range
128 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.5 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto US 17 Business; NC 24 Business / Marine Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 258 / Kinston Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Smith-Grady Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| Kinston Highway | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| Richlands Highway | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| Smith-Grady Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| NC 11 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Jonestown Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Jenny Lind Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Hardy Bridge Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Goldsboro, NC.
Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business
Continue on US 258; NC 24
Turn left onto Koonce Fork Road
Turn right
Turn left onto US 258
Turn left onto Jonestown Road
Turn right onto NC 11
Turn left onto Smith-Grady Road
Continue on Hardy Bridge Road
Turn left onto Jenny Lind Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 70
Take the exit onto US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; NC 111
Take the exit onto NC 111
Turn left onto US 117 Business; NC 111
Turn right onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 67.5 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goldsboro, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, NC
This is one driving day of about 67.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.7 mi from Jacksonville, NC · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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.
A short stop after about 67.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.80 one way
$21.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
| premium | $4.78 | $12.70 | $25.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.00 | $29.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.09 | $3.24 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
6:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Goldsboro on Saturday
Local time
6:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
63°F
Brices Creek, NC
34 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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