Lexington, NC Road Trips
With 11 routes heading out and 1 heading in, Lexington, NC works well as a modest departure point in the Southeast. Most drives stay under 101 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from Lexington, NC spread mainly east and west, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
12
Longest Drive
218 mi
Jacksonville, NC
Quickest Drive
24m
High Point, NC
Plan Around Lexington, NC
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Lexington, NC is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Lexington, NC
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Lexington, NC
Lexington, NC to Jacksonville, NC
Lexington, NC to Wilmington, NC
Lexington, NC to Asheville, NC
Lexington, NC to Raleigh, NC
Lexington, NC to Cary, NC
Lexington, NC to Apex, NC
Lexington, NC to Gastonia, NC
Lexington, NC to Charlotte, NC
Lexington, NC to Huntersville, NC
Lexington, NC to Greensboro, NC
Lexington, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Driving from Lexington, NC
On average, trips departing from Lexington, NC run 101 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 3m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 218 miles (4h 26m), while the shortest is just 21 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Lexington, NC include Jacksonville, NC (218 mi, 4h 26m), Wilmington, NC (207.7 mi, 4h 13m), Asheville, NC (142 mi, 2h 53m), Raleigh, NC (106.7 mi, 2h 9m), and Cary, NC (100.4 mi, 1h 59m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in NC currently averages around $3.96 per gallon. For the typical 101-mile trip from Lexington, NC, budget about $16 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 11 mapped routes leaving Lexington, NC and 1 routes heading into Lexington, NC, covering 12 total connections. Distances range from 21 to 218 miles.
The longest mapped route from Lexington, NC covers 218 miles and takes approximately 4h 26m. Shorter options start at just 21 miles.
The average route from Lexington, NC runs about 101 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 3m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.96/gallon for regular), the average 101-mile trip from Lexington, NC costs roughly $16 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Lexington, NC include Jacksonville, NC, Wilmington, NC, Asheville, NC and Raleigh, NC. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Lexington, NC by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
19,691
Median Income
$41,775
Median Home Value
$158,100
Median Age
35.9
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Lexington, NC
Lexington, North Carolina, is the self-proclaimed "Barbecue Capital of the World". Besides its famous barbecue, celebrated at the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival in October, Lexington is also distinctive for all the statues of pigs it has downtown.
Pigs in the City. A public arts initiative that placed numerous fiberglass pigs in various locations in Lexington. Some tourists get a checklist and visit each and every pig, checking them off the list. (updated Nov 2015)
1 Lexington Barbecue Festival, Main Street (Uptown Lexington). 8:30AM–6PM. An annual festival held each October that features singing, contests, and of course, barbecue. (updated Nov 2015)
Lexington is famous for its barbecue, which is typically made from pork shoulder. It hosts an annual barbecue festival in October. The 2019 festival takes place on October 26. 1 Main Street Pizza & Deli, 13 North Main Street, ☏ +1 336-249-2233. M 10:30AM–2PM, Tu–Th 10:30AM–7PM, F 10:30AM–8PM. 2 Fancy Pastry Shop, 407 East Center Street, ☏ +1 336-248-2279. M–Sa 8AM–6PM. 3 Char's Hamburgers, 400 North Main Street, ☏ +1 336-248-2026, [email protected]. (updated Feb 2026) 4 Barbecue Center, 900 North Main Street, ☏ +1 336-248-4633. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. (updated Feb 2026) 5 Shoto Japanese Steakhouse & Seafood, 17 N Main St (+1 336 238-5733). M–Th 11AM–9PM, F Sa 11AM–10PM. (updated Feb 2026)
1 Perfect Blend, 1 North Main Street, ☏ +1 336-243-7206. M–F 7AM–7PM, Sa 8AM–4PM.
1 Quality Inn, 101 Plaza Pkwy (I-85 Exit 91), ☏ +1 743-734-9831. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Days Inn By Wyndham Lexington/Columbia, 1015 South Lake Drive, ☏ +1 803-356-6533. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2026)
Lexington is directly connected by highway with Greensboro (Interstate 85), High Point (US 29), Thomasville (Interstate 85), Winston-Salem (US 52 / Interstate 285), Raleigh (US 64), and Charlotte (Interstate 85). PART Route 9 provides bus service from Thomasville and High Point, with connections from other cities in the Piedmont Triad. For the most part, train service to Lexington is no more. But once a year, Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont make a special stop here for the Lexington Barbecue Festival.
Lexington has limited bus service around town and to Thomasville.
Travel tips adapted from Lexington (North Carolina) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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