Origin
Charlotte, NC
Morning in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, NC to Elizabeth 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
55m
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Charlotte, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is 42.1 miles and takes about 55 minutes via I 85 and Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in North Carolina. Expect a mixed driving profile, offering a straightforward journey that can easily be completed within a single day. It's a short hop, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a major time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 24.1 mi | 29m |
| Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Freedom Drive | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Dixon Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Marion Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Morehead Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Post Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 24.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Elizabeth City, NC.
1
Start on South Tryon Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tryon Street
2
Turn right onto NC 27; NC 49
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Morehead Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto NC 27
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Freedom Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 85
24 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
9
Continue on US 74
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Marion Street
11
Continue on NC 180
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Post Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Crystal Lane
424 ft
·
18 sec
·
Crystal Lane
13
Arrive at destination
Crystal Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Charlotte, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 27; NC 49 / West Morehead Street
Turn right onto NC 27; NC 49 / West Morehead Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 27 / Freedom Drive
Turn right onto NC 27 / Freedom Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
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 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Elizabeth City, NC
Morning in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
4 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
55m 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 drive offers a mixed profile, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on I 85, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 24.1 miles. This interstate segment provides a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you transition off the main highway onto Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway and Freedom Drive, the character shifts, offering a different driving feel for the remainder of your trip. It's not an all-interstate grind, nor is it entirely rural backroads.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.1 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near NC 27; NC 49 / West Morehead Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (NC 27; NC 49 / West Morehead Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (NC 27 / Freedom Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Charlotte, NC to Elizabeth City, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Shelby along the way.
Shelby
28.3 mi in
|
~36m
About the Cities
Starting in Charlotte, NC
Full guide →Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas. Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
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 55m. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.1 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.6 miles (NC 27; NC 49 / West Morehead Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (NC 27 / Freedom Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabeth 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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