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Trip from Maine, NC to Richlands, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 5m

Distance

136.1 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 54m ★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Maine, NC, NC

Maine, NC

Mohan Nannapaneni

Trip Overview

The drive from Maine, NC to Richlands, NC covers 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Country Lane, Yadkinville Road, NC 226 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.28 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

68 miles from Maine, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 5m drive with frequent turns across 136.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Country Lane 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Maine, NC to Richlands, NC is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Maine, NC to Richlands, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Country Lane
Yadkinville Road
NC 226
Peppers Creek Road
Altapass Highway
Highway 226
Mine Creek Road
Pigeon Roost Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Country Lane — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Richlands, NC.

1

Start on Oak Grove Church Road

49 ft · 9 sec · Oak Grove Church Road
2

Turn left

0.5 mi · 42 sec
3

Turn right onto Country Lane

2.3 mi · 3 min · Country Lane
4

Turn right onto Yadkinville Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Yadkinville Road
5

Take the ramp left

0.4 mi · 45 sec
6

Merge slight left

83 mi · 1 hr 33 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward NC 226: Marion, Shelby

0.3 mi · 44 sec · NC 226: Marion, Shelby
8

Turn right

15 mi · 22 min
9

Continue straight

1.2 mi · 1 min
10

Turn left onto Peppers Creek Road

4.4 mi · 9 min · Peppers Creek Road
11

At the end of the road, turn right onto Peppers Creek Road

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Peppers Creek Road
12

Turn right onto Altapass Highway

4.5 mi · 8 min · Altapass Highway
13

Turn left

1.3 mi · 2 min
14

Turn right onto South NC Highway 226

6.5 mi · 9 min · South NC Highway 226
15

Turn left onto Mine Creek Road

3.7 mi · 7 min · Mine Creek Road
16

At the end of the road, turn left

3.1 mi · 4 min
17

Turn slight left

1.9 mi · 3 min
18

Turn slight left

4.1 mi · 7 min
19

Turn right onto Pigeon Roost Road

1.3 mi · 1 min · Pigeon Roost Road
20

Turn left onto Byrd Creek Road

1.9 mi · 7 min · Byrd Creek Road
21

Arrive at your destination

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 68 miles from Maine, NC, or about 1h 32m 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 30 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 32m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richlands, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Maine, 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 Maine, NC

This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 3h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Maine, 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 68 mi from Maine, NC · 1h 32m into the drive

city in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marion, NC

68 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

Granite Falls, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marion, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Maine, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Richlands, NC

The final approach into Richlands, 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 Richlands, 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

$21.28 one way

$42.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $23.27 $46.54
premium $4.70 $25.19 $50.38
diesel $5.61 $30.05 $60.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.91 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.05 $8.71

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Maine, NC

Evening in Maine on Thursday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richlands, NC

Evening in Richlands on Thursday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Marion, NC

68 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

3 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

3h 5m 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 Maine, NC to Richlands, NC covers 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Country Lane, Yadkinville Road, NC 226. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 miles from Maine, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Maine, NC to Richlands, NC is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Maine, NC to Richlands, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Maine, NC to Richlands, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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