Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Dunn, NC to High Point, NC

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

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

105.1 mi

169 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

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
city in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States

Dunn, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Dunn to High Point covers 105.1 miles through the heart of North Carolina, typically taking about 1 hour and 49 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path involves transitioning through various local roads, including South 10th Street, East Jackson Boulevard, and North Main Street. Both cities remain within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent climate and cultural feel throughout your travel. This route is an efficient way to connect these two points, provided you are prepared for a steady pace rather than an interstate sprint.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

52.5 miles from Dunn, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Isaac Brooks Highway 43.4 mi 52m
West Front Street 17.3 mi 24m
Sanford Bypass 10.4 mi 11m
East Jackson Boulevard 7.6 mi 11m
US 29 7.1 mi 7m
US 421 5.8 mi 9m
Greensboro Urban Loop 4.8 mi 5m
I 85 2.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Isaac Brooks Highway — 43.4 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dunn, NC and High Point, NC.

1

Start on US 421; NC 55

2.2 mi · 4 min · East Cumberland Street
2

Continue on US 421; NC 55

7.6 mi · 11 min · East Jackson Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on US 421; NC 27

4.4 mi · 6 min · US 421; NC 27
4

Turn left onto US 401; US 421; NC 27; NC 210

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
5

Turn right onto US 421 TRK

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 10th Street
6

Turn right onto US 421

17 mi · 24 min · West Front Street
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the ramp onto US 421

0.4 mi · 52 sec · US 421
Use the right lane.
8

Merge onto US 421; NC 87 BYP

10 mi · 11 min · Sanford Bypass
9

Continue on US 421

0.4 mi · 28 sec · Boone Trail Road
10

Continue on US 421

43 mi · 52 min · Isaac Brooks Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto US 421

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 421
Exit 197 Toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 421

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 421
Toward I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 85; US 421

4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

2.4 mi · 2 min · I 85
Toward I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 29

7.1 mi · 7 min · US 29
Toward US 29 South Use the slight right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward South Main Street, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Turn right onto South Main Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Arrive at destination

South Main Street

Trip Plan

Since this 105.1-mile trip is manageable in under two hours, you have significant flexibility with your departure time to avoid local traffic. Plan to keep your gas tank prepared with the $16 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as the local nature of the roads means fewer major service stations compared to a traditional interstate. Because there are 0 planned stops, you should decide ahead of time if you need to pull over for a break, as the constant turning can be more demanding than highway driving. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between South 10th Street and East Jackson Boulevard before you leave. Keeping your navigation tools active will ensure you handle the turn-heavy nature of this trek with ease.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.5 miles from Dunn, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 23 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.5 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 53m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dunn, 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 Dunn, NC

This is one driving day of about 105.1 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Dunn, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Isaac Brooks Highway for about 43.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Lee County, North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sanford, NC

53 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

Lillington, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sanford, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Dunn, 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.

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 60

Siler City, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 60

Siler City, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 30

Sanford, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18776642738

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Washington Terrace Community Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 105.1

High Point, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13368838599

Visit website

Hawk Manor Falconry

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 22.5

Lillington, North Carolina

+19109845196

Visit website

Raven Rock State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 22.5

Lillington, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+19108934888

Visit website

Kiwanis Family Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19197758247

Visit website

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 90.1

Greensboro, North Carolina

+13368529721

Visit website

Kersey Valley Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 97.6

Archdale, North Carolina

+13364311700

Visit website

The Pint Sized Pasture

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 37.5

Sanford, North Carolina

+19194984466

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 87.8 and 103.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
87.8 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | US 421

Take the exit onto US 421 toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

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 197 Toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durha...
8
88 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | US 421

Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, 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 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem,...
6
93.7 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in | I 85

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
7
96 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | US 29

Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 29 South
7
103.2 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward South Main Street, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward South Main Street, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.44 one way

$32.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $17.97 $35.94
premium $4.70 $19.45 $38.90
diesel $5.61 $23.20 $46.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.5 0 $11.04 $5.04
Efficient EV 26.3 0 $9.20 $4.20
EV Truck/SUV 42 0 $14.71 $6.73

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Dunn, NC

Late night in Dunn on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

High Point, NC

Late night in High Point on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Sanford, NC

53 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

7 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

2h 17m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating through local infrastructure, meaning there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed travel like you might experience on a major freeway. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on East Jackson Boulevard, which highlights the frequent turns and shifts in direction required to reach your destination. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, your focus will need to be sharp as you transition between streets. The personality of this drive is practical and hands-on, requiring you to navigate turns rather than simply maintaining a set speed on an open highway.

Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on Isaac Brooks Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87.8 miles in near US 421.

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 11 significant decision points across 105.1 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 87.8 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.7 miles (I 85): 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 Dunn, NC and High Point, NC, road signs point toward Durham and Charlotte.

Durham

87.8 mi in | ~1h 55m | via US 421

Charlotte

87.8 mi in | ~1h 55m | via US 421

About the Cities

Arriving in High Point, NC

Full guide →

High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.

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 2h 17m. Total distance: 105.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on Isaac Brooks Highway. 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 High Point, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 87.8 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.7 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at High Point, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From High Point, NC

Kill Devil Hills, NC 292.9 mi · 5h 53m Wanchese, NC 282.9 mi · 5h 38m Edenton, NC 228.9 mi · 4h 27m Southport, NC 219.3 mi · 4h 26m

More from Dunn, NC

Asheville, NC 264 mi · 5h 18m Concord, NC 135.8 mi · 3h 8m Durham, NC 65.1 mi · 1h 17m West Raleigh, NC 42.1 mi · 52m Raleigh, NC 38.7 mi · 48m Fayetteville, NC 24.9 mi · 31m

More trips to High Point, NC

Beaufort, NC 246.2 mi Morehead City, NC 241.7 mi Cape Carteret, NC 236.1 mi Hertford, NC 235.3 mi Bryson City, NC 223.5 mi Oak Island, NC 219.3 mi
Escape planner: Dunn, NC Scenic drives in NC

Explore more options from Dunn, NC or browse trips ending in High Point, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.