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Trip from Fayetteville, NC to Pinehurst, NC

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

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

42.9 mi

69 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m

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

city in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States

Fayetteville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

village in Moore County, North Carolina, United States

Pinehurst, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick getaway from Fayetteville to Pinehurst, you are looking at a manageable 42.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. This trip is perfect for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance allows you to head out in the morning and return by evening without feeling rushed. You can expect to spend approximately $7 in fuel for the round trip, making it an incredibly budget-friendly option for a weekend escape. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of North Carolina, the transition is seamless and familiar. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to customize your pace entirely. It is a straightforward, practical route that serves as a convenient connection between these two North Carolina destinations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Plank Road 13.1 mi 18m
Raeford Road 11 mi 17m
Aberdeen Road 8.3 mi 12m
West South Street 5.8 mi 8m
Wayside Road 1.6 mi 2m
Hay Street 1.2 mi 2m
Fayetteville Road 0.7 mi 1m
South Sandhills Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Plank Road — 13.1 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, NC and Pinehurst, NC.

1

Start on Market Square

48 ft · 2 sec · Market Square
2

Continue on Hay Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Hay Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto Highland Avenue

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Highland Avenue
4

Turn right onto Arsenal Avenue

362 ft · 9 sec · Arsenal Avenue
5

Continue on Raeford Road

11 mi · 17 min · Raeford Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on US 401

0.7 mi · 1 min · Fayetteville Road
7

Turn right onto Wayside Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Wayside Road
8

At end of road, turn left onto Plank Road

13 mi · 18 min · Plank Road
9

Turn right onto NC 211

8.3 mi · 12 min · Aberdeen Road
10

Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 211

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Poindexter Street
11

Turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211

0.3 mi · 26 sec · South Sandhills Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12

Turn left onto NC 5

5.8 mi · 8 min · West South Street
13

Turn right onto NC 2

514 ft · 10 sec · Cherokee Road
14

Enter roundabout onto NC 2

81 ft · 1 sec · Cherokee Road
15

Continue on NC 2

431 ft · 8 sec · Cherokee Road
16

Continue on NC 2

500 ft · 17 sec · Azalea Road
17

Turn sharp left onto Village Green Road West

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Village Green Road West
18

Turn straight onto Chinquapin Road

273 ft · 13 sec · Chinquapin Road
19

Arrive at destination

Chinquapin Road

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Rockfish, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockfish, NC

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

Aberdeen, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Raeford, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Fayetteville, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.7 — 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 | Hay Street

Right onto Hay Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | Highland Avenue

Turn left onto Highland Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
36.3 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard

Turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
42.5 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in | NC 2 / Cherokee Road

Enter roundabout onto NC 2 / Cherokee Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
42.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | Village Green Road West

Turn sharp left onto Village Green Road West

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.71 one way

$13.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $7.34 $14.67
premium $4.70 $7.94 $15.88
diesel $5.61 $9.47 $18.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.9 0 $4.50 $2.06
Efficient EV 10.7 0 $3.75 $1.72
EV Truck/SUV 17.2 0 $6.01 $2.75

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fayetteville, NC

Late night in Fayetteville on Sunday

Local time

3:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pinehurst, NC

Late night in Pinehurst on Sunday

Local time

3:30 AM

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

1 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

1h 5m 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 haul, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating local roads, specifically Plank Road, Raeford Road, and Aberdeen Road. The drive feels more intimate and engaging than a typical high-speed commute, requiring your full attention as you transition between these thoroughfares. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 13.1 miles on Plank Road, which provides the most consistent portion of the journey. Because you are primarily on local roads, the pace is dictated by the flow of traffic and the winding nature of the path, offering a very different experience than a standard highway cruise.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.1 mi on Plank Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hay Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 42.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Hay Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.3 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

524 ft 102 ft

Total Climb

619 ft

Total Descent

197 ft

Highest Point

524 ft

~42.9 mi in

Elevation Range

422 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Fayetteville, NC

Full guide →

Fayetteville is a city in Cumberland County, in the western part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain region. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg/Liberty/Bragg (the name of which changed thrice in as many years,) a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the prestigious All-America City Award from the National Civic League three times. According to the 2020 United States Census estimate, the city has a population of 208,501. It ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina. With an estimated population of 529,252, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state.

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 1h 5m. Total distance: 42.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.1 miles on Plank Road. 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: near the start (Hay Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.3 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pinehurst, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Fayetteville, NC or browse trips ending in Pinehurst, NC.

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