Origin
Southern Shores, NC
Evening in Southern Shores on Friday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southern Shores, NC to Avon, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
59.4 mi
96 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Shores, NC
Scott Platt
Avon, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Southern Shores, NC to Avon, NC covers 59.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NC 12, North Croatan Highway, Cape Hatteras National Park Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.6 miles on NC 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.29 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
29.7 miles from Southern Shores, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 59.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 59.4 miles, with most of the trip on NC 12 and North Croatan Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.6 miles on NC 12.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 12 and North Croatan Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Southern Shores, NC to Avon, NC is easy. At 1h 35m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NC 12 / Duck Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles (NC 12): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Avenue
Continue onto 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 12 / Duck Road
Turn left onto NC 12 / Duck Road
Navigation decision point
4
41.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
NC 12
Enter roundabout onto NC 12
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
59 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
SR 1224 / Harbor Road
Turn right onto SR 1224 / Harbor Road
Navigation decision point
3
59.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
Methodist Church Road
Turn left onto Methodist Church Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 12 | 37.6 mi | 57m |
| North Croatan Highway | 14.8 mi | 23m |
| Cape Hatteras National Park Road | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Ocean Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Duck Road | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Harbor Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Methodist Church Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NC 12
— 37.6 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Shores, NC and Avon, NC.
1
Start on this road
256 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto NC 12
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Duck Road
4
Continue on NC 12
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ocean Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 158
15 mi
·
23 min
·
North Croatan Highway
6
Turn slight left onto SR 1521
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Cape Hatteras National Park Road
7
Continue on NC 12
20 mi
·
29 min
·
NC 12
8
Enter roundabout onto NC 12
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 12
9
Continue on NC 12
17 mi
·
28 min
·
NC 12
10
Turn right onto SR 1224
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Road
11
Turn left onto Methodist Church Road
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Methodist Church Road
12
Arrive at destination
Methodist Church Road
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 29.7 miles from Southern Shores, NC, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 13 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.7 miles or 48m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avon, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southern Shores, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Southern Shores, NC
This is one driving day of about 59.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Southern Shores, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 12 for about 37.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.7 mi from Southern Shores, NC · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Southern Shores, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Avon, NC
The final approach into Avon, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.29 one way
$18.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.99 | $21.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.11 | $26.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.20 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.32 | $3.80 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Avon, NC
Evening in Avon on Friday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
19 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
1h 35m 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 Southern Shores, NC to Avon, NC covers 59.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 12, North Croatan Highway, Cape Hatteras National Park Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.7 miles from Southern Shores, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.29 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.
The drive from Southern Shores, NC to Avon, NC is easy. At 1h 35m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NC 12 / Duck Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles (NC 12): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Southern Shores, NC to Avon, 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.
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