The drive from Oak Island, NC to Gastonia, NC covers 229.1 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Green Swamp Road Northwest for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.83 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
114.5 miles from Oak Island, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 229.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 46m drive with frequent turns across 229.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
803 ft1 ft
Total Climb
992 ft
Total Descent
189 ft
Highest Point
803 ft
~229.1 mi in
Elevation Range
802 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 127.1 miles in near US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 229.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 127.1 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.5 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.7 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
141.5 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
7
174.7 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
208.6 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|NC 27
Take the exit onto NC 27 toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
7
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward NC 7: East Gastonia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 19
Toward NC 7: East Gastonia
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
65.9 mi
1h 16m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Green Swamp Road Northwest
25.6 mi
35m
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi
21m
I 85
15.5 mi
19m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
9 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 65.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Island, NC and Gastonia, NC.
1
Start on NC 906
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Middleton Avenue
2
Continue on NC 906
4.1 mi·6 min·North Middleton Street
3
Turn left onto NC 211
9.0 mi·12 min·Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on NC 211
26 mi·35 min·Green Swamp Road Northwest
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
6
Merge onto US 74; US 76
34 mi·38 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
8
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
13
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.3 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
15
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
16
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi·34 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi·21 min·Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi·9 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi·6 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.7 mi·44 sec·East Independence Boulevard
22
Merge onto I 277; US 74; NC 16; NC 27
2.3 mi·3 min·John Belk Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto NC 27
2.5 mi·4 min·NC 27
Exit 1AToward NC 27: Freedom DriveUse the left lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 85
15 mi·19 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 19Toward NC 7: East GastoniaUse the right lane.
27
Turn right onto NC 7
0.6 mi·1 min·East Ozark Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on NC 7
0.7 mi·1 min·East Long Avenue
29
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Turn right onto US 29; US 74; NC 274
0.5 mi·54 sec·East Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
31
Arrive at destination
US 29; US 74; NC 274
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 114.5 miles from Oak Island, NC, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 50 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.5 miles or 2h 18m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gastonia, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, NC
This is one driving day of about 229.1 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Oak Island, 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.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 65.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.5 mi from Oak Island, NC
· 2h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 114.5 miles from Oak Island, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.9 miles.
Arriving in Gastonia, NC
The final approach into Gastonia, 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 Gastonia, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 39.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.83 one way
$71.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$39.17
$78.34
premium
$4.70
$42.40
$84.80
diesel
$5.61
$50.58
$101.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.7
0
$24.06
$11.00
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.16
EV Truck/SUV
91.6
1
$32.07
$14.66
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jun 23, 2022
Origin
Oak Island, NC
Late night
in Oak Island on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gastonia, NC
Late night
in Gastonia on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
115 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
26 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
4h 46m 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 Oak Island, NC to Gastonia, NC covers 229.1 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Green Swamp Road Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.5 miles from Oak Island, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.83 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 229.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 127.1 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.5 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.7 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Oak Island, NC to Gastonia, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1 ft to 803 ft elevation with about 992 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
