Origin
Asheville, NC
Night in Asheville on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Asheville, NC to Forest City, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
63.1 mi
102 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Asheville to Forest City, you are looking at a manageable 63.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this route is perfect for a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your Southeast travel plans. Navigating the transition from the mountains toward the foothills is efficient, as the drive relies on a combination of the Billy Graham Freeway, Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway, and the Andrew Jackson Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this path offers a practical and direct connection between these two North Carolina locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Graham Freeway | 27.5 mi | 34m |
| Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | 18.2 mi | 19m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 12 mi | 14m |
| James A. Callahan Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Broadway Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Marcellus Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Billy Graham Freeway
— 27.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Asheville, NC and Forest City, NC.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Marcellus Street
130 ft
·
8 sec
·
Marcellus Street
3
Turn right onto US 25
105 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrimon Avenue
4
Turn straight
306 ft
·
11 sec
5
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
this road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 240; US 70; US 74A
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS
26 mi
·
32 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
Toward I 240 West, I 26 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26; US 74
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
9
Take the exit onto US 74
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
Exit 67
Toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
Toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton
11
Continue on US 74
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
12
Continue on US 74
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
James A. Callahan Highway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 221 ALT: Forest City
14
Turn left onto US 221A
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Broadway Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Turn right onto Cherry Mountain Street
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
Cherry Mountain Street
17
Arrive at destination
Cherry Mountain Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Asheville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Marcellus Street
Turn left onto Marcellus Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 240; US 70; US 74A / Billy Graham Freeway
Merge onto I 240; US 70; US 74A / Billy Graham Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS / Billy Graham Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS / Billy Graham Freeway toward I 240 West, I 26 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 240 West, I 26 East
8
39.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
Take the exit onto US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
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 67
Toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherford...
7
40 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.87 one way
$19.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.79 | $21.58 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.93 | $27.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Forest City, NC
Night in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
53°F
Flat Rock, NC
32 mi in
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
5 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
1h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed driving profile that keeps the experience varied rather than monotonous. You will spend about 44% of your time on highways, providing a balanced pace as you move through the region. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Billy Graham Freeway, where you can settle into a steady 27.5-mile drive. As you transition between the Billy Graham Freeway, Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway, and the Andrew Jackson Highway, the road's personality shifts, requiring you to remain alert to changing traffic patterns. Expect a functional drive that blends fast-paced highway segments with the more localized flow of regional corridors.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.5 mi on Billy Graham Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Marcellus Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Marcellus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (I 240; US 70; US 74A / Billy Graham Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS / Billy Graham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,171 ft
861 ft
Total Climb
319 ft
Total Descent
1,436 ft
Highest Point
2,171 ft
~23.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,310 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Asheville, NC to Forest City, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Rutherfordton along the way.
Rutherfordton
39.7 mi in
|
~49m
|
via US 74
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 63.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.5 miles on Billy Graham Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Forest City, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Marcellus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (I 240; US 70; US 74A / Billy Graham Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS / Billy Graham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Forest City, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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