Origin
Saint James, NC
Late night in Saint James on Saturday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
232.9 mi
375 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint James, NC
Jo Kassis
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 232.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on St James Drive Southeast, Members Club Boulevard, Wingfoot Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.42 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
116.4 miles from Saint James, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 232.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m 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 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 232.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
St James Drive Southeast 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.
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 4h 20m 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 Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| St James Drive Southeast | — | — |
| Members Club Boulevard | — | — |
| Wingfoot Drive | — | — |
| Fairway Village Drive | — | — |
| Ellington Place | — | — |
| Parkridge Drive | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Middleton Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
St James Drive Southeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint James, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on the route
118 ft
·
13 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto St James Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
3
Turn left onto Members Club Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Members Club Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Wingfoot Drive
207 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wingfoot Drive
5
Turn left onto Fairway Village Drive
220 ft
·
15 sec
·
Fairway Village Drive
6
Turn straight onto Wingfoot Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wingfoot Drive
7
Turn right onto Ellington Place
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Ellington Place
8
At the end of the road, turn right onto Parkridge Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Parkridge Drive
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
10
Exit the roundabout
0.4 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn right onto Middleton Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Middleton Street
12
Turn left onto Southport-Supply Road Southeast
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
13
Continue on Green Swamp Road Northwest
26 mi
·
35 min
·
Green Swamp Road Northwest
14
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
15
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
34 mi
·
38 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Continue on American Indian Highway
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
17
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
G R Kindley Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
20
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Caswell Street
21
Continue on Salisbury Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
22
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
23
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
24
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
25
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Marshville Boulevard
26
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
28
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
29
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
30
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
31
Take the exit slight right toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Sixth Street, McDowell Street
32
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
33
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Tryon Street
34
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 116.4 miles from Saint James, NC, or about 2h 10m 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 51 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.4 miles or 2h 10m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint James, 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 Saint James, NC
This is one driving day of about 232.9 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Saint James, 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 116.4 mi from Saint James, NC · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.4 miles from Saint James, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Charlotte, NC
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.42 one way
$72.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.82 | $79.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $43.10 | $86.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.42 | $102.84 |
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: 81.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.45 | $11.18 |
| Efficient EV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.38 | $9.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.61 | $14.91 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Destination
Charlotte, NC
Late night in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
116 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
5 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 20m 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 Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 232.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are St James Drive Southeast, Members Club Boulevard, Wingfoot Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 116.4 miles from Saint James, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.42 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 20m 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 Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint James, NC to Charlotte, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Charlotte, NC
More from Saint James, NC
More trips to Charlotte, NC
Explore more options from Saint James, NC or browse trips ending in Charlotte, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.