This 355.4-mile journey from Andrews to Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a substantial drive typically completed in about 7 hours and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 74, US 19, and US 421, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of the drive on such roads. Given its duration, it's feasible as a single-day trip, though an early start is recommended to maximize daylight. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $56. You'll encounter two planned stops along the way, making it a direct but manageable trek across the state, keeping you in the Southeast region throughout.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.7 miles from Andrews, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 74
184.2 mi
3h 32m
US 19
59.4 mi
1h 15m
US 421
57.1 mi
1h 8m
NC 87
29.5 mi
43m
Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
12.4 mi
14m
US Highway 19
9.9 mi
12m
Business 19
1.2 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 74
— 184.2 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andrews, NC and Fayetteville, NC.
1
Start on Cherry Street
72 ft·10 sec·Cherry Street
2
Turn left onto US 19 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 19 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Business 19
4
Take the ramp onto US 19 Business
0.2 mi·12 sec·Business 19
Toward Bryson City
5
Merge onto US 19; US 74; US 129
6.9 mi·10 min·US 19; US 74; US 129
6
Continue on US 19; US 74
9.9 mi·12 min·US Highway 19
7
Turn left onto US 19; US 74
52 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 19; US 74
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74; US 64 Truck
184 mi·3 hr 32 min·US 74; US 64 Truck
Toward I 40 East: AshevilleUse the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
12 mi·13 min·US 421
Toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 421
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 421
Exit 126Toward US 421: SanfordUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
45 mi·54 min·US 421
Exit 126AToward US 421 South: SanfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 421
12 mi·14 min·Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on NC 87
30 mi·43 min·NC 87
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on Bragg Boulevard
0.4 mi·59 sec·Bragg Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto Hay Street
0.5 mi·48 sec·Hay Street
Use the left lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto Market Square
369 ft·5 sec·Market Square
17
Arrive at destination
Market Square
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 13-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Andrews, NC, to ensure you arrive in Fayetteville with ample daylight. With two stops suggested, you can break up the 355.4 miles effectively, perhaps planning one around the halfway point. The $56 fuel cost is a good budget to keep in mind, and it's wise to fill up before embarking on the longest stretch of 184.2 miles on US 74. Pay attention to signage for US 74, US 19, and US 421 as you navigate, as these are your primary guides for this highway-centric trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.7 miles from Andrews, NC, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.2 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 78 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.7 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 52m
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 Andrews, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Andrews, NC
This is one driving day of about 355.4 miles and 7h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Andrews, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 74 for about 184.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.1 and 354.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 74; US 64 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74; US 64 Truck toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
8
255.4 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durh...
7
267.6 mi into trip|~5h 18m in|US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421: Sanford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 126
Toward US 421: Sanford
8
267.8 mi into trip|~5h 18m in|US 421
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward US 421 South: Sanford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 126A
Toward US 421 South: Sanford
6
354.8 mi into trip|~7h 12m in|Hay Street
Turn left onto Hay Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.47 one way
$104.94 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$57.66
$115.32
premium
$4.49
$62.85
$125.71
diesel
$4.80
$67.11
$134.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.6
1
$37.32
$17.06
Efficient EV
88.9
1
$31.10
$14.22
EV Truck/SUV
142.2
1
$49.76
$22.75
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Andrews, NC
Night
in Andrews on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:26AM EDT until July 17 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:26AM EDT until July 17 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Destination
Fayetteville, NC
Night
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:26AM EDT until July 17 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:26AM EDT until July 17 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 36.8
Park Closure: Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascade Trail Closed
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 355.4-mile route, with 96% of your travel on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 184.2 miles, primarily on US 74, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While predominantly highway, the route uses key US highways, which can sometimes offer a slightly different feel than a pure interstate. This drive progresses from the western part of North Carolina towards the central/eastern regions, maintaining a generally direct and efficient path.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 184.2 mi on US 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 74 and US 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.1 miles in near US 74; US 64 Truck.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 355.4 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 71.1 miles (US 74; US 64 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.4 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.6 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,686 ft102 ft
Total Climb
987 ft
Total Descent
2,664 ft
Highest Point
2,686 ft
~76.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,584 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Andrews, NC to Fayetteville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Durham along the way.
Fayetteville is a city in Cumberland County, in the western part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain region. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg/Liberty/Bragg (the name of which changed thrice in as many years,) a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the prestigious All-America City Award from the National Civic League three times. According to the 2020 United States Census estimate, the city has a population of 208,501. It ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina.
With an estimated population of 529,252, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state.
Top landmarks
•Airborne & Special Operations Museum — museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina
•Fayetteville — railway station in Fayetteville, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 13m. Total distance: 355.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 184.2 miles on US 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fayetteville, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.1 miles (US 74; US 64 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.4 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.6 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fayetteville, NC before the return drive.
