Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
256.6 mi
413 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Photo: John Hill
The drive from Richlands, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 256.6 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Franck Street, Richlands Highway, Beulaville Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.07 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
128.3 miles from Richlands, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 17m drive with frequent turns across 256.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 17m 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 Richlands, NC to Charlotte, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Franck Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Richlands Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Beulaville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Kenansville Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 50 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harnett-Dunn Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Warren Mill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newton Grove Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, NC and Charlotte, NC.
Start on South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto West Franck Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Richlands Highway
Continue on Beulaville Highway
Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass
Take the exit right
Take the exit slight right toward NC 50, NC 55: Newton Grove
Turn left onto Harnett-Dunn Highway
Turn left onto Warren Mill Road
Keep slight left to continue on Warren Mill Road
Turn right onto Newton Grove Highway
Merge slight left onto Fayetteville Highway
Continue on Goldsboro Road
Turn left
Keep slight right to continue on Goldsboro Road
Continue on Fayetteville Outer Loop
Take the exit slight right toward US 401: Raeford, Fayetteville
Keep slight right to continue on US 401 South: Raeford
Merge slight left onto South Raeford Road
Continue on Fayetteville Road
Turn right onto Wayside Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Plank Road
Continue on Army Road
Continue on Ashemont Road
Keep slight left to continue on Ashemont Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Ashemont Road
Exit the roundabout onto Ashemont Road
Turn right onto Addor Road
Turn left
Turn right onto East Green Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Broad Avenue
Continue on East Caswell Street
Continue on Salisbury Street
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
Continue on East Independence Expressway
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
Take the exit slight right toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Continue on East 6th Street
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.3 miles or 2h 8m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Richlands, 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 Richlands, NC
This is one driving day of about 256.6 miles and 4h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.3 mi from Richlands, NC · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 128.3 miles from Richlands, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$41.07 one way
$82.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $44.74 | $89.49 |
| premium | $4.78 | $48.27 | $96.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $57.01 | $114.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77 | 0 | $26.94 | $12.32 |
| Efficient EV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.45 | $10.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.6 | 1 | $35.92 | $16.42 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Richlands on Saturday
Local time
6:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
6:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Fayetteville, NC
128 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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