Origin
Black Mountain, NC
Night in Black Mountain on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Black Mountain, NC to Highland Gate, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black Mountain, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Highland Gate, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Black Mountain, NC to Highland Gate, NC is 14.8 miles and takes about 20m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Southeast region and North Carolina, making it a straightforward drive. Given its brief length, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a segment of a larger journey. It's mostly highway, so expect efficiency rather than leisurely sightseeing. Plan for a simple, quick trip with minimal planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| Billy Graham Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chunns Cove Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old Chunns Cove Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Montreat Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 10.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black Mountain, NC and Highland Gate, NC.
1
Start on this road
73 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto NC 9
199 ft
·
10 sec
·
Montreat Road
3
Continue on NC 9
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Broadway Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 40
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Billy Graham Freeway
Toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
Toward Chunns Cove Road, Tunnel Road
8
Turn right onto Chunns Cove Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Chunns Cove Road
9
Turn left onto Old Chunns Cove Road
201 ft
·
8 sec
·
Old Chunns Cove Road
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Chunns Cove Road
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Old Chunns Cove Road
11
Turn right
120 ft
·
8 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 9 / Montreat Road
Turn right onto NC 9 / Montreat Road
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
5
13.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Chunns Cove Road, Tunnel Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Chunns Cove Road, Tunnel Road
5
14.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Old Chunns Cove Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Chunns Cove Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
14.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.31 one way
$4.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.53 | $5.06 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.74 | $5.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Highland Gate, NC
Night in Highland Gate on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major roads like I 40 and Billy Graham Freeway. You'll experience a nearly continuous stretch of 10.3 miles on I 40, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions to Broadway Street as you approach Highland Gate, marking a shift from high-speed travel to a more local road feel. Expect a driving experience dominated by efficient interstate travel.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Billy Graham Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 9 / Montreat Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 14.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 (NC 9 / Montreat Road): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.3 miles on I 40. 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 Highland Gate, 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 (NC 9 / Montreat Road): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Highland Gate, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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