Randolph County I-73/I-74 Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Greensboro, NC to Long Beach, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
222.1 mi
357 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greensboro, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, NC
IAN
Trip Overview
Greensboro to Long Beach is 222.1 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 73, Andrew Jackson Highway, and American Indian Highway, 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 toward the coast. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, so don't expect to be on interstates the entire time. It's a manageable drive that can easily be completed in a single day, making it a great option for a quick getaway or a transition to beach 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
111 miles from Greensboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 73 | 57.2 mi | 1h 3m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 44.3 mi | 49m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| NC 211 | 25.4 mi | 34m |
| Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway | 17.7 mi | 19m |
| East Hamlet Avenue | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| Southport-Supply Road Southeast | 9 mi | 12m |
| US 220 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
I 73
— 57.2 mi, about 1h 3m
Traffic on I-73
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~563 veh/hr typical · worst 967
Quietest
2 AM
~40 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Greensboro, NC and Long Beach, NC.
1
Start on West Market Street
130 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Market Street
2
Turn right onto South Greene Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Greene Street
Use the right lane.
3
Enter roundabout onto West McGee Street
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
West McGee Street
4
Continue on West McGee Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West McGee Street
5
Turn left onto Freeman Mill Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Freeman Mill Road
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Freeman Mill Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Freeman Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 220
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 73; I 74; US 220
57 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 73; I 74; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 220
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 220
Exit 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Broad Avenue
11
Continue on US 74 BUS
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hamlet Avenue
12
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
466 ft
·
11 sec
·
Raleigh Street
13
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Spring Street
14
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
13 mi
·
16 min
·
East Hamlet Avenue
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 74
34 mi
·
36 min
·
American Indian Highway
17
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi
·
38 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
19
Turn right onto NC 211
25 mi
·
34 min
·
NC 211
20
Continue on NC 211
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto NC 906
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Middleton Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto East Oak Island Drive
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Oak Island Drive
23
Turn right onto Southeast 46th Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Southeast 46th Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto East Beach Drive
147 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Beach Drive
25
Arrive at destination
East Beach Drive
Trip Plan
For this 4h 28m drive, leaving Greensboro in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and arrive in Long Beach with plenty of time to settle in. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to take a break when needed or push through if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $37, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially as you move from highway to surface roads. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or your schedule.
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 111 miles from Greensboro, NC, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.2 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 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111 miles or 2h 11m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greensboro, 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 Greensboro, NC
This is one driving day of about 222.1 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Greensboro, 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 I 73 for about 57.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111 miles from Greensboro, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Randolph County I-73/I-74 Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Ellerbe Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Greene Street
Turn right onto South Greene Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West McGee Street
Enter roundabout onto West McGee Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Freeman Mill Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Freeman Mill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
78.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
6
102.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.33 one way
$70.65 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $38.52 | $77.04 |
| premium | $4.78 | $41.79 | $83.58 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $46.78 | $93.56 |
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: 77.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.32 | $10.66 |
| Efficient EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.43 | $8.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.09 | $14.21 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Greensboro, NC
Afternoon in Greensboro on Wednesday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
W 6 mph
26% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, NC
Afternoon in Long Beach on Wednesday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph
16% chance
Live 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
11 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
4h 28m 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.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 183.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route has a highway share of 47%, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 57.2 miles on I 73. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface street driving, with varying speed limits and more frequent intersections as you get closer to your destination. This mixed profile means you'll need to be adaptable to different driving conditions throughout the drive.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.2 mi on I 73.
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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Greene 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 222.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 (South Greene Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (West McGee Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (Freeman Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
825 ft
5 ft
Total Climb
106 ft
Total Descent
926 ft
Highest Point
825 ft
Elevation Range
820 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCoffeeology
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hours: 07:00-18:00
Visit websiteTate Street Coffee
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-18:00; Sa,Su 07:00-18:00
Visit websiteDelicious Bakery
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Cuisine: coffee;baked goods
Hours: Mo-Th,Su 08:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-19:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Spring Garden Bakery and Coffeehouse
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-18:00; Sa 07:00-16:00; Su 08...
Visit websitePepperoni Grill at the Beach
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0 mi from route
Oak Island, NC
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteB. Christopher's Steakhouse
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: steak
Hours: Tu-Sa 17:00-21:00+
Visit websiteCincy's Downtown
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
NC
Hours: We-Fr 11:00-14:00
Visit websiteGrey's Tavern
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-We 11:00-24:00; Th-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su...
Visit websiteHibachi Cafe
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: sushi
Hours: Mo-We 11:00-21:30; Th-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su...
Visit websiteThe Corner Slice
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Greensboro, NC
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Su-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 11:00-23:00
Visit websiteHeron Lookout
Park
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Lake Daniel Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Pea Ridge Campsite
Camp_site
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Shipwreck Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Crossover Trail
Viewpoint
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Montgomery Sheep Farm
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Biscoe, North Carolina
Visit websiteGateway of the Open Book
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Visit website
Weatherspoon Art Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hours: Tu-We,Fr-Sa 10:00-17:00; Th 10:00-20:00
Visit websiteMetaphor
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Rankin Museum of American Heritage
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Ellerbe, NC
Visit websiteCharles Duncan McIver
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Minerva Statue
Artwork
Near the start, short detour
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Anchor Inn
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Captain's Cove
Hotel
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Pea Ridge Campsite
Camp_site
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Days Inn by Wyndham Biscoe
Hotel
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Biscoe, NC
Oak Island Inn
Hotel
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Piney Island Campsite
Camp_site
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Greensboro, NC
Full guide →Founded 1808
Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Top landmarks
- • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park — site maintained by the U.S. National Park Service commemorating the battle
- • Greensboro Science Center — science museum and zoological park
- • Grimsley High School — public school in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
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 4h 28m. Total distance: 222.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.2 miles on I 73. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Long Beach, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Greene Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (West McGee Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (Freeman Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Long Beach, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Greensboro, NC or browse trips ending in Long Beach, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.