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Trip from Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC

Drive Time

4h 23m

Distance

210.5 mi

339 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 10m ★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 33m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 49m
8 PM
4h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Southport, NC, NC

Southport, NC

Michael Ken

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Charlotte, NC

John Hill

Trip Overview

The drive from Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 210.5 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Green Swamp Road Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.69 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

105.3 miles from Southport, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 23m drive with frequent turns across 210.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 130.5 miles in near US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 210.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 130.5 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.9 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.1 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
130.5 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in | US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
144.9 mi into trip | ~2h 54m in | US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 306B Toward US 74 West: Monroe
7
178.1 mi into trip | ~3h 42m in | US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
5
196.6 mi into trip | ~4h 3m in | US 74 / Independence Boulevard

Merge onto US 74 / Independence Boulevard

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
209.5 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in

Take the exit toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway 65.9 mi 1h 16m
American Indian Highway 33.6 mi 36m
Green Swamp Road Northwest 25.6 mi 35m
Monroe Expressway 18.4 mi 21m
Southport-Supply Road Southeast 14.9 mi 21m
G R Kindley Freeway 14.4 mi 15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway 12.8 mi 17m
Independence Boulevard 7.1 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Andrew Jackson Highway — 65.9 mi, about 1h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Southport, NC and Charlotte, NC.

1

Start on NC 211

1.9 mi · 3 min · North Howe Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on NC 211

15 mi · 21 min · Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on NC 211

26 mi · 35 min · Green Swamp Road Northwest
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
5

Merge onto US 74; US 76

34 mi · 38 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
6

Continue on US 74; NC 130

34 mi · 36 min · American Indian Highway
7

Continue on US 74

20 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74

14 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306B Toward US 74 West: Monroe Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 74

2.4 mi · 4 min · East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742

0.7 mi · 1 min · Salisbury Street
12

Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742

6.5 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

6.3 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
14

Continue on US 74

2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
15

Continue on US 74

2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on US 74

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
17

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP

18 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto US 74

7.1 mi · 9 min · Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on US 74

5.4 mi · 6 min · East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on US 74; NC 27

0.4 mi · 27 sec · East Independence Boulevard
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on East 6th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
23

Turn left onto North Tryon Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Tryon Street
24

Arrive at destination

South Tryon Street

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 105.3 miles from Southport, NC, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 105.3 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 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 210.5 miles and 4h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Southport, 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.
The longest stretch is on Andrew Jackson Highway for about 65.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 105.3 mi from Southport, NC · 2h 10m into the drive

Downtown Fayetteville, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fayetteville, NC

105 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.

Popular next leg

Fayetteville, NC to Charlotte, NC

129.4 mi · 2h 57m

Pacing Suggestions

Fayetteville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fayetteville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.3 miles from Southport, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.9 miles.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 43.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.69 one way

$67.38 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $36.70 $73.41
premium $4.78 $39.60 $79.19
diesel $5.64 $46.77 $93.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.2 0 $22.10 $10.10
Efficient EV 52.6 0 $18.42 $8.42
EV Truck/SUV 84.2 1 $29.47 $13.47

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Southport, NC

Afternoon in Southport on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Sunny

SE 8 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Destination

Charlotte, NC

Afternoon in Charlotte on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Sunny

ESE 7 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

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

10 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

4h 23m 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 Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC covers 210.5 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, Green Swamp Road Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.3 miles from Southport, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.69 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 210.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 130.5 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.9 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.1 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Southport, NC to Charlotte, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Charlotte, NC to Southport, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

210.3 mi 4h 23m

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