Origin
Fayetteville, NC
Morning in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fayetteville, NC to Seven Lakes, 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 24m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fayetteville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Seven Lakes, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward transition from Fayetteville to Seven Lakes, this 53.3-mile journey is a manageable excursion that fits perfectly into a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 24 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate through the Southeast region of North Carolina. With a modest fuel budget of $9, this trip is an economical choice for those traveling between these two communities. Since the entire route is well within a comfortable driving range, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that keeps you moving efficiently toward your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Plank Road | 13.1 mi | 18m |
| Raeford Road | 11 mi | 17m |
| Aberdeen Road | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| NC 211 Highway | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| West South Street | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Wayside Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hay Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Seven Lakes Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Plank Road
— 13.1 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, NC and Seven Lakes, 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
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West South Street
13
Turn left onto NC 211
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
NC 211 Highway
14
Turn right onto Seven Lakes Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Seven Lakes Drive
15
Turn left onto Dogwood Lane
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Dogwood Lane
16
At end of road, turn right onto Firetree Lane
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Firetree Lane
17
Turn right
171 ft
·
12 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.3 — 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
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Arsenal Avenue
Turn right onto Arsenal Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
14.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Plank Road
At end of road, turn left onto Plank Road
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.33 one way
$16.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.11 | $18.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.86 | $19.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Seven Lakes, NC
Morning in Seven Lakes on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
2 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 24m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that favors backroads over high-speed interstate travel. With only 15% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the majority of your time navigating Plank Road, Raeford Road, and Aberdeen Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 13.1-mile segment on Plank Road, which offers a break from the more frequent turns found elsewhere. Because this route relies on local roads, the drive feels more intimate and engaging than a standard freeway commute. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads requires your full attention throughout the duration of the trip.
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: 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 53.3 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 1.3 miles (Arsenal Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
599 ft
102 ft
Total Climb
689 ft
Total Descent
223 ft
Highest Point
599 ft
~49.5 mi in
Elevation Range
497 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 24m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). 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 1.3 miles (Arsenal Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seven Lakes, 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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