Origin
Kings Mountain, NC
Late night in Kings Mountain on Thursday
Local time
12:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
164 mi
264 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kings Mountain, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC covers 164 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Piedmont Avenue, US 74 East, Senator J for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.65 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
82 miles from Kings Mountain, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 164 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Piedmont Avenue 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 2h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Piedmont Avenue | — | — |
| US 74 East | — | — |
| Senator J | — | — |
| I 85 | — | — |
| I 85 North | — | — |
| Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway | — | — |
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | — | — |
| University City Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Piedmont Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kings Mountain, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on the route
85 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto North Piedmont Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Piedmont Avenue
3
Take the ramp right toward US 74 East: Gastonia
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 74 East: Gastonia
4
Merge slight left onto Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
5
Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
7
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
8
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Cameron Morrison Bridge
9
Take the exit slight right toward University City Boulevard, Ikea Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
University City Boulevard, Ikea Boulevard
10
Keep slight right to continue on Ikea Boulevard
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
Ikea Boulevard
11
Turn right onto University City Boulevard
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
University City Boulevard
12
Continue on NC Highway 49
56 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
NC Highway 49
13
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
14
Continue on West Dixie Drive
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
West Dixie Drive
15
Continue on Richard K. Pugh Highway
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Richard K. Pugh Highway
16
Continue on Jordan Road
24 mi
·
35 min
·
Jordan Road
17
Keep slight left
22 mi
·
28 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward NC 55: Apex, Durham
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
NC 55: Apex, Durham
19
Turn right onto West Williams Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Williams Street
20
Turn left onto Hunter Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunter Street
21
Turn right onto North Salem Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Salem Street
22
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82 miles from Kings Mountain, NC, or about 1h 27m 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 36 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 27m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kings Mountain, 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 Kings Mountain, NC
This is one driving day of about 164 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Kings Mountain, 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 82 mi from Kings Mountain, NC · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82 miles from Kings Mountain, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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 Apex, 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
$25.65 one way
$51.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.04 | $56.08 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.35 | $60.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.21 | $72.42 |
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: 57.4 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 | 49.2 | 0 | $17.22 | $7.87 |
| Efficient EV | 41 | 0 | $14.35 | $6.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.96 | $10.50 |
Gas CO2
57 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
Apex, NC
Late night in Apex on Thursday
Local time
12:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lexington, NC
82 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
11 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
2h 54m 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 Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC covers 164 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Piedmont Avenue, US 74 East, Senator J. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82 miles from Kings Mountain, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.65 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 2h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kings Mountain, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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