Origin
Gastonia, NC
Late night in Gastonia on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
94.9 mi
153 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gastonia, NC
Wikimedia Commons
This 94.9-mile drive from Gastonia, NC to High Point, NC is a straightforward day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes. The route primarily utilizes US 29 and the Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway, with a significant portion on the Cameron Morrison Bridge. With a projected fuel cost of around $15, this is an economical option for a single-day excursion. As both locations are within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you won't be crossing state or major regional lines. Given its relatively short duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Gastonia, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | 59.4 mi | 1h 8m |
| US 29 | 19 mi | 22m |
| Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| I 285 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East Long Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Franklin Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Ozark Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gastonia, NC and High Point, NC.
Start on US 29; US 74; NC 274
Turn left onto South Broad Street
Turn right onto NC 7
Continue on NC 7
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 85
Continue on I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70
Continue on US 29; US 64; US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29; US 70
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 94.9-mile trip, leaving in the morning or late afternoon can help you avoid peak local traffic. Since the total drive time is under two hours, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but consider a quick break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch is over 59 miles, and the estimated fuel cost is $15. A key tip for this route is to be prepared for frequent turns, especially as you transition from highway segments to local roads; having your GPS ready will be beneficial.
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.
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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gastonia, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gastonia, NC
This is one driving day of about 94.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.5 miles from Gastonia, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 92.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto NC 7 / East Long Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70 toward US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29; US 70 toward I 85 Business North, US 29 North, US 70 East: High Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Archdale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$14.84 one way
$29.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.23 | $32.45 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.56 | $35.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.95 | $41.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.96 | $4.56 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38 | 0 | $13.29 | $6.07 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Gastonia on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in High Point on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
78°F
Concord, NC
47 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only 24% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.4 miles on the Cameron Morrison Bridge, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. The character of the drive shifts, transitioning between local roads and higher-speed highway segments as you make your way across North Carolina. This blend means you'll be navigating various traffic patterns and speed limits throughout the 1 hour and 53 minute trip.
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 0.7 miles in near NC 7 / East Long Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.7 miles (NC 7 / East Long Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 69.8 miles (I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.9 miles (US 29; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gastonia, NC to High Point, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Winston-Salem along the way.
Winston-Salem
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 94.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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