Origin
Morehead City, NC
Afternoon in Morehead City on Thursday
Local time
1:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morehead City, NC to Lola, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
59m
Distance
39.6 mi
64 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morehead City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Lola, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Morehead City, NC to Lola, NC covers 39.6 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 70, NC 12, Grayden Paul Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.8 miles on US 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 59m highway drive covering 39.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 70 and NC 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.8 miles on US 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and NC 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 17th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 17th Street
Turn right onto North 17th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 70 / Arendell Street
Turn left onto US 70 / Arendell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
8.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 70
Turn right onto US 70
Navigation decision point
3
15.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 70
Turn left onto US 70
Navigation decision point
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 70
Turn sharp left onto US 70
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 20.8 mi | 30m |
| NC 12 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Grayden Paul Bridge | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Arendell Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Lola Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North 17th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 20.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morehead City, NC and Lola, NC.
1
Start on this road
194 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North 17th Street
143 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 17th Street
3
Turn left onto US 70
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Arendell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 70
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Grayden Paul Bridge
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto US 70
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
7
Turn left onto US 70
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
8
Turn sharp left onto US 70
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 70
9
Continue on NC 12
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
NC 12
10
Turn right onto Lola Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lola Road
11
Arrive at destination
Lola Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.8 mi from Morehead City, NC · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Morehead City, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lola, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lola, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.19 one way
$12.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.77 | $13.54 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.74 | $17.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Lola, NC
Afternoon in Lola on Thursday
Local time
1:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
59m 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 Morehead City, NC to Lola, NC covers 39.6 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 70, NC 12, Grayden Paul Bridge. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.8 miles from Morehead City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.19 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 is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.
The route from Morehead City, NC to Lola, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More from Morehead City, NC
More trips to Lola, NC
Explore more options from Morehead City, NC or browse trips ending in Lola, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Morehead City, NC or Lola, NC on MapSof.net.