Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
227.7 mi
366 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
Photo: John Hill
The drive from Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 227.7 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southport-Supply Road Southeast, Green Swamp Road Northwest, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.44 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
113.8 miles from Southport, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 12m drive with frequent turns across 227.7 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 12m 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 Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southport-Supply Road Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Green Swamp Road Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| American Indian Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| G R Kindley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Caswell Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Salisbury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Southport, NC and Charlotte, NC.
Start on North Howe Street
Continue on Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Continue on Green Swamp Road Northwest
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on American Indian Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.8 miles or 2h 6m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Southport, 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 Southport, NC
This is one driving day of about 227.7 miles and 4h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.8 mi from Southport, NC · 2h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 113.8 miles from Southport, 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
$36.44 one way
$72.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $39.70 | $79.41 |
| premium | $4.78 | $42.83 | $85.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $50.59 | $101.17 |
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: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
| Efficient EV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.92 | $9.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.88 | $14.57 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Southport on Saturday
Local time
7:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Charlotte on Saturday
Local time
7:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Fayetteville, NC
114 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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