Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Morning in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
87.5 mi
141 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Saint James, NC
Jo Kassis
Trip Overview
The drive from Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC covers 87.5 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.9 miles on Wilmington Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.68 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.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 87.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC covers 87.5 miles and takes about 2h 3m, 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 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilmington Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway.
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 87.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
64.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
5
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Merge onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
87.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
|
St James Drive Southeast
Enter roundabout onto St James Drive Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
87.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
Myrtle Beach
64.6 mi in
|
~1h 23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Highway | 24.9 mi | 34m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 24.9 mi | 26m |
| US 17 | 13.7 mi | 20m |
| Ocean Highway East | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Midway Road Southeast | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Middleton Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| St James Drive Southeast | 2.8 mi | 10m |
| Marine Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilmington Highway
— 24.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Saint James, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Marine Boulevard
2
Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Business
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Wilmington Highway
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 17; NC 210
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on NC 140
25 mi
·
26 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 17
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
9
Continue on US 17 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Continue on US 17 Business
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
11
Turn left onto NC 906
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Midway Road Southeast
12
Continue on NC 906
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Middleton Street
13
Turn slight left onto St James Drive Southeast
97 ft
·
4 sec
·
St James Drive Southeast
14
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
1.9 mi
·
7 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
15
Continue on Trailwood Drive Southeast
365 ft
·
16 sec
·
Trailwood Drive Southeast
16
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
17
Enter roundabout onto St James Drive Southeast
245 ft
·
11 sec
·
St James Drive Southeast
18
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
19
Turn left
118 ft
·
8 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint James, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 87.5 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Jacksonville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilmington Highway for about 24.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.7 mi from Jacksonville, NC · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint James, NC
The final approach into Saint James, 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 Saint James, 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
$13.68 one way
$27.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.96 | $29.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.19 | $32.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.32 | $38.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.19 | $4.20 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35 | 0 | $12.25 | $5.60 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Saint James, NC
Morning in Saint James on Saturday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
2h 3m 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 Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC covers 87.5 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilmington Highway, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, US 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.7 miles from Jacksonville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.1 miles (US 17 Business / Wilmington Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Saint James, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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