Origin
Saint James, NC
Afternoon in Saint James on Saturday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint James, NC to Jacksonville, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
85.7 mi
138 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint James, NC
Jo Kassis
Jacksonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint James, NC to Jacksonville, NC covers 85.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, I 140, Market Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.8 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.40 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Saint James, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 85.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 1m highway drive covering 85.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and I 140. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.8 miles on US 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and I 140. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near Ellington Place.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (Ellington Place): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Parkridge Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Ellington Place
Turn right onto Ellington Place
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Parkridge Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Parkridge Drive
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Turn right onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
20.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 140
Take the exit onto I 140 toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39
Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint James, NC to Jacksonville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward New Bern along the way.
New Bern
20.3 mi in
|
~36m
|
via I 140
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 29.8 mi | 41m |
| I 140 | 25.4 mi | 28m |
| Market Street | 9.1 mi | 14m |
| Ocean Highway East | 8 mi | 10m |
| Midway Road Southeast | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| South Marine Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Middleton Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 29.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint James, NC and Jacksonville, NC.
1
Start on this road
118 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
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
221 ft
·
14 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 end of road, turn right onto Parkridge Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Parkridge Drive
9
Enter roundabout
243 ft
·
10 sec
10
Continue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn right onto NC 906
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Middleton Street
12
Continue on NC 906
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Midway Road Southeast
13
Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 906
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
14
Continue on US 17 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
15
Continue on US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
16
Turn right onto US 17
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto I 140
25 mi
·
28 min
·
I 140
Exit 39
Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 17
9.1 mi
·
14 min
·
Market Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 17; NC 210
30 mi
·
41 min
·
US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Marine Boulevard
21
Arrive at destination
US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.8 miles from Saint James, NC, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 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 19 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 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 85.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Saint James, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 29.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.8 mi from Saint James, NC · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Saint James, 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
$13.40 one way
$26.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.65 | $29.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.86 | $31.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.92 | $37.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.48 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Jacksonville, NC
Afternoon in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
17 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
2h 1m 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 Saint James, NC to Jacksonville, NC covers 85.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, I 140, Market Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.8 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 $13.40 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 2h 1m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (Ellington Place): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Parkridge Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Saint James, NC to Jacksonville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward New Bern along the way.
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.
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