Fayetteville, NC to Wanchese, NC is 219.5 miles and takes about 4h 40m via US 64 East, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, beginning in the Southeast region and concluding in the same area. With most of the route on highways, expect a relatively straightforward and efficient trip. This is a manageable one-day drive, perfect for getting to the Outer Banks without extensive travel time.
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
109.8 miles from Fayetteville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Eastern Boulevard
57.3 mi
1h 6m
US 64
44.2 mi
54m
United States Highway 64 East
40.5 mi
49m
US 64 ALT
20.2 mi
28m
South Church Street
11.8 mi
17m
NC 42
11.2 mi
15m
I 587
10.6 mi
11m
NC 124
7.5 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
North Eastern Boulevard
— 57.3 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,449 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,097
Quietest
2 AM
~214 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, NC and Wanchese, 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
23 mi·30 min·US 64
24
Turn right onto NC 345
3.6 mi·6 min·NC 345
25
Turn right onto Old Schoolhouse Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Old Schoolhouse Road
26
Arrive at destination
Old Schoolhouse Road
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Fayetteville in the morning will allow you to reach Wanchese with plenty of daylight. Given the 4h 40m estimated drive time and 219.5 miles, this is a comfortable one-day trip. You'll want to factor in one stop to break up the drive, possibly around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $34, and plan your last refueling before hitting US 64 East to ensure smooth sailing.
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 109.8 miles from Fayetteville, NC, or about 2h 19m 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.8 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wanchese, 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 219.5 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 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
$34.87 one way
$69.74 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$38.02
$76.05
premium
$4.78
$41.31
$82.61
diesel
$6.18
$53.40
$106.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.9
0
$23.05
$10.54
Efficient EV
54.9
0
$19.21
$8.78
EV Truck/SUV
87.8
1
$30.73
$14.05
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Forecast as of Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, NC
Morning
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
9:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wanchese, NC
Morning
in Wanchese on Saturday
Local time
9:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 8 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
10 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
4h 40m 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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$10
near mile 211.9
The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, or the calm of the salt marshes, you can experience it all. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms these islands are ever changing. The plants,...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 219.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 64% of this 219.5-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a primary road is 57.3 miles on North Eastern Boulevard before transitioning to US 64 East. Expect a mix of highway cruising and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination, particularly as you move from the highway segments.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Eastern Boulevard and US 64. You will hit about 19 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 Effort6/10
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 219.5 miles you will encounter 19 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
232 ft4 ft
Total Climb
186 ft
Total Descent
281 ft
Highest Point
232 ft
~31.4 mi in
Elevation Range
227 ft
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 Wanchese, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilson along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Airborne & Special Operations Museum — museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina
•Fayetteville — railway station in Fayetteville, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 219.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Wanchese, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Wanchese, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
