The drive from Sunset Beach, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 104 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, New Britton Highway East, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.7 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.26 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52 miles from Sunset Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 104 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 104 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 68 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 68 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (North Water Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
68 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
5
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|West 5th Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
72 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|North Water Street
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 95; US 301
Merge onto I 95; US 301
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
94.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 95 Business
Take the exit onto I 95 Business toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40
Toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sunset Beach, NC and Fayetteville, NC, road signs point toward Fairmont, Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield.
Fairmont
68 mi in|~1h 42m
Fort Bragg
94.1 mi in|~2h 17m|via I 95 Business
Pope Army Airfield
94.1 mi in|~2h 17m|via I 95 Business
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
20.7 mi
23m
New Britton Highway East
17 mi
29m
Andrew Jackson Highway
16.9 mi
18m
American Indian Highway
10.7 mi
12m
Longwood Road Northwest
9 mi
18m
I 95 Business
7.4 mi
8m
Seaside Road Southwest
3.6 mi
5m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
3.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 20.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunset Beach, NC and Fayetteville, NC.
1
Start on Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi·46 sec·Sunset Boulevard South
2
Enter roundabout onto NC 179 Business
222 ft·4 sec·Sunset Boulevard North
3
Continue on NC 179 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·Sunset Boulevard North
4
Turn left onto NC 179; NC 904
3.6 mi·5 min·Seaside Road Southwest
5
Continue on NC 904
9.0 mi·18 min·Longwood Road Northwest
6
Continue on NC 130
3.2 mi·4 min·Whiteville Road Northwest
7
Continue on NC 130
17 mi·29 min·New Britton Highway East
8
Continue on NC 130
1.5 mi·2 min·Vinson Boulevard
9
Continue on NC 130
0.2 mi·28 sec·East Love Mill Road
10
Turn right onto US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·South J K Powell Boulevard
11
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.5 mi·51 sec·South Powell Boulevard
12
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.2 mi·17 sec·Jk Powell Boulevard
13
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·Powell Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
15
Merge onto US 74; US 76
17 mi·18 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Continue on US 74; NC 130
11 mi·12 min·American Indian Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
18
Turn right onto NC 41
3.3 mi·6 min·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
19
Continue on Apple Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Apple Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·West 5th Street
21
Turn left onto North Water Street
393 ft·7 sec·North Water Street
22
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
219 ft·3 sec·North Water Street
23
Continue on North Water Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Water Street
24
Turn straight onto Carthage Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Carthage Road
25
Turn right onto Capuano Street
152 ft·6 sec·Capuano Street
26
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
27
Merge onto I 95; US 301
21 mi·23 min·I 95; US 301
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit onto I 95 Business
5.0 mi·5 min·I 95 Business
Exit 40Toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army AirfieldUse the slight right lane.
29
Continue on I 95 Business; US 301
2.4 mi·2 min·I 95 Business; US 301
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on I 95 Business; US 301
323 ft·4 sec·South Eastern Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn slight left onto Gillespie Street
2.5 mi·3 min·Gillespie Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Enter roundabout onto Market Square
253 ft·4 sec·Market Square
33
Arrive at destination
Market Square
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 52 miles from Sunset Beach, NC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.7 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 23 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 104 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Sunset Beach, 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 I 95 for about 20.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52 mi from Sunset Beach, NC
· 1h 24m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Sunset Beach, NC
Morning
in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
6:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, NC
Morning
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
6:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
13 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
2h 30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sunset Beach, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 104 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, New Britton Highway East, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52 miles from Sunset Beach, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.26 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 68 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (North Water Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Sunset Beach, NC and Fayetteville, NC, road signs point toward Fairmont, Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
