Origin
Morganton, NC
Afternoon in Morganton on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC
Drive Time
4h 50m
Distance
312.9 mi
504 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 37m
★
6 AM
4h 50m
8 AM
5h 17m
10 AM
5h 0m
12 PM
4h 57m
3 PM
5h 1m
5 PM
5h 16m
8 PM
4h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morganton, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Jacksonville, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
The drive from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC covers 312.9 miles and takes about 4h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Concord Street, South Sterling Street, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
156.5 miles from Morganton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 50m drive with frequent turns across 312.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Concord Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 50m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Concord Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Sterling Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 73 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 421 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 421 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 540 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Concord Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morganton, NC and Jacksonville, NC.
1
Start on the route
102 ft
·
9 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto East Concord Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Concord Street
3
Turn left onto South Sterling Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Sterling Street
4
Keep slight right to continue on South Sterling Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Sterling Street
5
Turn left onto I 40: Hickory
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 40: Hickory
6
Merge slight left
106 mi
·
2 hr
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Sanford
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 421: Sanford
9
Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford
26 mi
·
32 min
·
US 421 South: Sanford
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
11
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
12
Keep slight left
21 mi
·
27 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward NC 540 Toll South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
NC 540 Toll South
14
Merge slight left onto Triangle Expressway
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Triangle Expressway
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Wilmington
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 40 East: Wilmington
16
Merge slight left
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
17
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
18
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
60 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
19
Take the exit slight right toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
20
Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Kenansville Bypass
21
Turn right onto D S Williams Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
D S Williams Road
22
Turn right
5.1 mi
·
6 min
23
Turn left onto Hallsville Road
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Hallsville Road
24
Turn right onto Jackson Store Road
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Jackson Store Road
25
At the end of the road, turn left
14 mi
·
21 min
26
Merge slight left onto Richlands Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Richlands Highway
27
Turn left
433 ft
·
8 sec
28
Turn slight right onto Richlands Highway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Richlands Highway
29
Continue on South Marine Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Marine Boulevard
30
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 156.5 miles from Morganton, NC, or about 2h 25m 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 80 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.5 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Morganton, 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 Morganton, NC
This is one driving day of about 312.9 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Morganton, 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 156.5 mi from Morganton, NC · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 156.5 miles from Morganton, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jacksonville, NC
The final approach into Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, 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
$50.08 one way
$100.15 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $54.56 | $109.12 |
| premium | $4.78 | $58.86 | $117.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $69.52 | $139.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.9 | 1 | $32.85 | $15.02 |
| Efficient EV | 78.2 | 0 | $27.38 | $12.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.2 | 1 | $43.81 | $20.03 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Jacksonville, NC
Afternoon in Jacksonville on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
1 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
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC covers 312.9 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Concord Street, South Sterling Street, I 40. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 156.5 miles from Morganton, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.08 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 50m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Morganton, NC to Jacksonville, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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