Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Chapel Hill, NC to Belmont, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

147.8 mi

238 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 5m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Chapel Hill, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in North Carolina, United States

Belmont, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 147.8 miles across North Carolina, this trip from Chapel Hill to Belmont is a manageable journey that typically takes 3 hours and 16 minutes. Because it is a straightforward drive within the Southeast region, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, saving you the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the state, you will utilize a combination of routes, including the Billy Graham Freeway, US 25, and the Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway. Whether you are heading west for business or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a practical and efficient connection between these two North Carolina locales.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

73.9 miles from Chapel Hill, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Billy Graham Freeway 26.7 mi 33m
US 25 24.8 mi 37m
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway 18.2 mi 19m
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway 15.7 mi 18m
James A. Callahan Highway 15.2 mi 17m
Andrew Jackson Highway 13.8 mi 16m
West Dixon Boulevard 12.4 mi 17m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway 6.8 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Billy Graham Freeway — 26.7 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, NC and Belmont, NC.

1

Start on this road

27 ft · 4 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road
3

Continue on Guntertown Road

2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road
4

At end of road, turn left onto NC 208

3.5 mi · 5 min · NC 208
5

Continue on US 25; US 70

21 mi · 32 min · US 25; US 70
6

Take the exit onto US 25; US 70

3.9 mi · 5 min · US 25; US 70
7

Continue on I 26; US 19; US 23; US 70

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 26; US 19; US 23; US 70
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26; US 19; US 23

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 26; US 19; US 23
Toward I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville
9

Merge onto I 26; I 240; US 19; US 23; US 74A

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Billy Graham Freeway
Use the straight lane.
10

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.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26; US 74

12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
12

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.
13

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
14

Continue on US 74

18 mi · 19 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
15

Continue on US 74

15 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway
16

Take the exit onto US 74

12 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Continue on US 74

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
18

Continue on US 74

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 7 sec
Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto I 85

16 mi · 18 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 26 Toward NC 7: Mount Holly, Belmont, Belmont Abbey College Use the slight right lane.
23

Turn left onto NC 7

0.2 mi · 26 sec · McAdenville Road
Use the straight lane.
24

Turn right onto NC 7

0.9 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
Use the right lane.
25

Turn left onto NC 7

317 ft · 10 sec · Catawba Street
Use the left lane.
26

Turn right onto Glenway Street

355 ft · 17 sec · Glenway Street
27

Turn right

121 ft · 8 sec
28

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since the total drive time is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop planned along the way, you can easily pace the trip to suit your comfort level. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the drive, as the $24 estimate can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and current local pricing. If you want to avoid peak congestion, try to time your arrival in Belmont to bypass the busiest commuting hours. Utilizing the Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway efficiently will help you maintain your momentum as you navigate toward your final destination.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.7 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 33 miles or 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.9 miles or 1h 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmont, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Chapel Hill, NC

This is one driving day of about 147.8 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Chapel Hill, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Billy Graham Freeway for about 26.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Bent Creek, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bent Creek, NC

74 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

Asheville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Barker Heights, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.9 miles from Chapel Hill, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Hope House Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Forest City, North Carolina

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 95

Hours: 6:30 am–7:30 pm

+18283672326

Visit website

Hope House Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 95

Forest City, North Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–7:30 pm

+18283672326

Visit website

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 31.7

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18665761496

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 31.7

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 31.7

Weaverville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 31.7

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Asheville Pinball Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 31.7

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 2–9 pm

+18287765671

Visit website

Visit Hendersonville

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 63.4

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18286939708

Visit website

Asheville Free Walking Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 31.7

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18284190295

Visit website

We Rock the Spectrum - Asheville

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 42.2

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18285057556

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 36.9 and 146.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
36.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m 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
75.1 mi into trip | ~1h 47m 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
75.3 mi into trip | ~1h 47m 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
8
129.8 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
8
146.3 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Take the exit toward NC 7: Mount Holly, Belmont, Belmont Abbey College

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 26 Toward NC 7: Mount Holly, Belmont, Belmont Abbe...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.11 one way

$46.23 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $25.27 $50.54
premium $4.70 $27.35 $54.71
diesel $5.61 $32.63 $65.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.3 0 $15.52 $7.09
Efficient EV 37 0 $12.93 $5.91
EV Truck/SUV 59.1 0 $20.69 $9.46

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Chapel Hill, NC

Night in Chapel Hill on Saturday

Local time

10:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Sunny

W 9 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Destination

Belmont, NC

Night in Belmont on Saturday

Local time

10:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Bent Creek, NC

74 mi in

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

25 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

3h 16m 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 journey features a mixed drive profile, blending stretches of fast-paced pavement with more localized road segments. With about 40% of the trip spent on highways, you will experience varying traffic rhythms throughout the 147.8-mile trek. You can expect your longest uninterrupted period behind the wheel to be a 26.7-mile stretch on the Billy Graham Freeway. The transition between these specific roads keeps the drive engaging, as you shift from arterial highway speeds to the character of the secondary routes. It is a functional drive that requires you to stay alert as the road type transitions periodically.

40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.7 mi on Billy Graham Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 around 36.9 miles in near I 26; I 240; US 19 BUS; US 23 BUS / Billy Graham Freeway.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 19 significant decision points across 147.8 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 36.9 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; at 75.1 miles (US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Chapel Hill, NC and Belmont, NC, road signs point toward Rutherfordton, Spartanburg and Charlotte.

Rutherfordton

75.1 mi in | ~1h 47m | via US 74

Spartanburg

129.7 mi in | ~2h 52m

Charlotte

129.8 mi in | ~2h 53m

About the Cities

Arriving in Belmont, NC

Full guide →

Belmont is a suburban town west of the major city of Charlotte in U.S. State of North Carolina.

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 3h 16m. Total distance: 147.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.7 miles on Billy Graham Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Belmont, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 36.9 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; at 75.1 miles (US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Belmont, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Belmont, NC to Chapel Hill, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

148.1 mi 3h 17m

Continue From Belmont, NC

Greenville, NC 257.8 mi · 4h 56m Rocky Mount, NC 232.4 mi · 4h 27m Wilmington, NC 211.3 mi · 4h 21m Cary, NC 169.1 mi · 3h 17m

More from Chapel Hill, NC

Carolina Beach, NC 371.5 mi · 7h 57m Clayton, NC 301.9 mi · 6h 11m Wake Forest, NC 284.5 mi · 5h 56m Durham, NC 261.6 mi · 5h 22m Hillsborough, NC 248.8 mi · 5h 8m Gibsonville, NC 225.3 mi · 4h 41m

More trips to Belmont, NC

Jacksonville, NC 253.1 mi Fayetteville, NC 142.8 mi Asheville, NC 112.5 mi
Escape planner: Chapel Hill, NC Scenic drives in NC

Explore more options from Chapel Hill, NC or browse trips ending in Belmont, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.