Origin
Fayetteville, NC
Morning in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fayetteville, NC to Southern Shores, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
237.6 mi
382 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fayetteville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Southern Shores, NC
Scott Platt
Trip Overview
Fayetteville, NC to Southern Shores, NC is 237.6 miles and takes about 5h 10m via US 64 East, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a single-day drive, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward route to the Outer Banks. You'll encounter a mix of driving conditions, so be prepared for both highway cruising and surface roads. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the 5-hour drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.8 miles from Fayetteville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Eastern Boulevard | 57.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 64 | 47.7 mi | 59m |
| United States Highway 64 East | 40.5 mi | 49m |
| US 64 ALT | 20.2 mi | 28m |
| South Croatan Highway | 14.9 mi | 23m |
| South Church Street | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| NC 42 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| I 587 | 10.6 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
North Eastern Boulevard
— 57.3 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, NC and Southern Shores, NC.
1
Start on Market Square
262 ft
·
6 sec
·
Market Square
2
Continue on Person Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Person Street
3
Continue on Person Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Person Street
4
Enter roundabout onto B Street
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
B Street
5
Continue on B Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
B Street
6
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 210
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Grove Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto I 95 Business; US 301
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
North Eastern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 301: Kenly, Wilson
9
Turn right onto US 301
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Church Street
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge onto I 587; US 264
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 587; US 264
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 35
13
Turn left onto NC 111; NC 222
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
NC 111; NC 222
14
Turn left onto NC 111
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Good News Church Road
15
Turn right onto NC 124
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
NC 124
16
Turn right onto NC 42
11 mi
·
15 min
·
NC 42
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
18
Merge onto US 64
22 mi
·
23 min
·
US 64
19
Turn right onto US 64 ALT
20 mi
·
28 min
·
US 64 ALT
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 64; NC 32
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
United States Highway 64 East
21
Continue on US 64; NC 32
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
U.S. Highway 64 East
22
Continue on US 64
40 mi
·
47 min
·
United States Highway 64 East
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
26 mi
·
35 min
·
US 64
24
Continue on US 64
516 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Virginia Dare Trail
25
Continue on US 158
15 mi
·
23 min
·
South Croatan Highway
26
Take the exit
269 ft
·
7 sec
27
Turn straight onto SR 1493
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ocean Boulevard
28
Turn straight onto NC 12
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Duck Road
29
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
3rd Avenue
30
Continue on 3rd Avenue
256 ft
·
15 sec
·
3rd Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Fayetteville in the morning will get you to Southern Shores with plenty of daylight to spare. The recommended single stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, be sure to top off your tank before you leave Fayetteville, as gas availability can vary along US 64 East. This route is manageable in one day, so you have flexibility if you want to take a slightly longer break. Keep an eye out for the transition from faster highway driving to the slower speeds of coastal towns.
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 118.8 miles from Fayetteville, NC, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.3 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.8 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southern Shores, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC
This is one driving day of about 237.6 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Fayetteville, 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 North Eastern Boulevard for about 57.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 118.8 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 130 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Person Street
Enter roundabout onto Person Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
B Street
Enter roundabout onto B Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 301: Kenly, Wilson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 301: Kenly, Wilson
6
130 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
|
US 64 ALT
Turn right onto US 64 ALT
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.16 one way
$74.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $40.63 | $81.25 |
| premium | $4.70 | $43.97 | $87.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.46 | $104.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.95 | $11.40 |
| Efficient EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.79 | $9.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95 | 1 | $33.26 | $15.21 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Southern Shores, NC
Morning in Southern Shores on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Washington, NC
119 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
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
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
National Memorial
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane fli...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
$10
near mile 229.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed drive, with 59% of the route on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on US 64 East. The longest stretch without a major road change is 57.3 miles. Expect to transition from more urban-influenced areas to more open cruising as you head east. The density of exits will likely decrease as you get closer to the coast.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.3 mi on North Eastern Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Person Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 237.6 miles you will encounter 20 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: at 0.3 miles (Person Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (B Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street): 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 Fayetteville, NC to Southern Shores, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilson along the way.
Wilson
58.4 mi in
|
~1h 8m
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 5h 10m. Total distance: 237.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.3 miles on North Eastern Boulevard. 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 Southern Shores, 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 0.3 miles (Person Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (B Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (NC 24; NC 210 / Grove Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wright Brothers National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southern Shores, NC before the return drive.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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