McDowell County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Asheville, NC to Plymouth, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 9m
Distance
369.8 mi
595 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 58m
★
6 AM
7h 9m
8 AM
7h 31m
10 AM
7h 17m
12 PM
7h 15m
3 PM
7h 18m
5 PM
7h 30m
8 PM
7h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Asheville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth, NC
Tnarg
Trip Overview
Asheville, NC to Plymouth, NC is 369.8 miles and takes about 7h 9m via I 40 and US 64, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, making it a straightforward drive across the Southeast region. With 99% of the route on highways, you'll find yourself mostly on high-speed roads. This is a solid one-day option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between the mountains and the coast.
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
184.9 miles from Asheville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 234.4 mi | 4h 29m |
| US 64 | 79.6 mi | 1h 26m |
| US 64 ALT | 19.7 mi | 27m |
| I 87 | 16.8 mi | 17m |
| I 440 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Billy Graham Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Washington Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 234.4 mi, about 4h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Asheville, NC and Plymouth, 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
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Merrimon Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 240; US 70; US 74A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 240
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
7
Merge onto I 40
158 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
42 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
30 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Wade Avenue
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
14
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 87; US 64; US 264
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
80 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
US 64
18
Turn right onto US 64 ALT
20 mi
·
27 min
·
US 64 ALT
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
20
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Main Street
21
Turn left
186 ft
·
18 sec
22
Turn uturn
191 ft
·
19 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Asheville to avoid potential traffic. With just two recommended stops and a long stretch on I 40, you can easily cover the distance in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 234.4-mile segment on I 40, as services can be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost is around $61. As you transition from I 40 to US 64 and US 64 ALT, be prepared for more local exits and potentially slower speeds as you get closer to Plymouth.
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 184.9 miles from Asheville, NC, or about 3h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.4 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 81 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.9 miles or 3h 34m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plymouth, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Asheville, 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 Asheville, NC
This is one driving day of about 369.8 miles and 7h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Asheville, 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 I 40 for about 234.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.9 miles from Asheville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 234.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Davie County, I-40 Eastbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Davie County, I-40 Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Alamance County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Marion Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Marion Rest Area - Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
I-40 Catawba Rest Area Westbound MM 136
0.2 mi from route
I-40 Catawba Rest Area Eastbound MM 136
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Washington County Rest Area
1.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 162.9 and 369.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
162.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
209.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
239.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
|
SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
252.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
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 I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
7
369.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 8m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.82 one way
$117.64 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $64.13 | $128.27 |
| premium | $4.78 | $69.58 | $139.16 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $77.89 | $155.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.9 | 1 | $38.83 | $17.75 |
| Efficient EV | 92.5 | 1 | $32.36 | $14.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.9 | 1 | $51.77 | $23.67 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Asheville, NC
Afternoon in Asheville on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 1 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Plymouth, NC
Afternoon in Plymouth on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 mph
5% chance
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
2 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
7h 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 99% of the 369.8 miles on faster roads. You'll encounter 2 stops along the way. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 234.4 miles on I 40, so plan your breaks accordingly. The route transitions from I 40 onto US 64 and US 64 ALT, which may involve a decrease in speed and an increase in local traffic as you approach your destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 162.9 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 369.8 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 162.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.5 miles (SR 1728 / Wade Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,132 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
154 ft
Total Descent
2,270 ft
Highest Point
2,132 ft
Elevation Range
2,115 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.
Between Asheville, NC and Plymouth, NC, road signs point toward Martinsville, Wilson and Greenville.
Martinsville
162.9 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via I 40
Wilson
252.3 mi in
|
~4h 53m
Greenville
252.3 mi in
|
~4h 53m
About the Cities
Starting in Asheville, NC
Full guide →Founded 1797
The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.
Top landmarks
- • Biltmore Estate — historic house museum and tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina, Unite...
- • Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville — minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in Asheville, North Carolina
- • The Omni Grove Park Inn — Historic hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Arriving in Plymouth, NC
Full guide →Founded 1787
Plymouth is the seat of Washington County on the North Carolina Coastal Plain.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 9m. Total distance: 369.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Plymouth, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 162.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 239.5 miles (SR 1728 / Wade Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Plymouth, NC before the return drive.
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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