Greensboro to Maxton is 114 miles and takes about 2h 15m via I 73, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region down to a different part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive that should feel familiar if you've traveled through this part of the country before. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and minimal disruption to your schedule. Consider it for a quick hop between these two North Carolina cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57 miles from Greensboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 73
57.2 mi
1h 3m
Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway
17.7 mi
19m
East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi
16m
Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi
10m
US 220
4.8 mi
6m
Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi
5m
Freeman Mill Road
2.7 mi
4m
West Broad Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Maxton, 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 22Toward US 220 South: RockinghamUse 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
0.2 mi·12 sec·American Indian Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward NC 71: Maxton, Red Springs
18
Turn right onto NC 71
0.9 mi·1 min·NC 71
19
Arrive at destination
NC 130
Trip Plan
For this 2h 15m drive, leaving Greensboro in the morning should give you plenty of time to reach Maxton without feeling rushed. Since the total distance is only 114 miles, you likely won't need to make many stops, but it's always a good idea to take a break if you feel tired. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the estimated fuel cost is around $19, and plan a fuel stop if needed. The longest stretch without a major town or exit is about 57.2 miles on I 73, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57 miles from Greensboro, NC, or about 1h 4m 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57 miles or 1h 4m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maxton, 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 114 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Greensboro, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 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
$18.13 one way
$36.26 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$19.77
$39.54
premium
$4.78
$21.45
$42.90
diesel
$5.35
$24.01
$48.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Efficient EV
28.5
0
$9.98
$4.56
EV Truck/SUV
45.6
0
$15.96
$7.30
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Greensboro, NC
Afternoon
in Greensboro on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 7 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Maxton, NC
Afternoon
in Maxton on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
S 1 to 6 mph30% 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
1 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
2h 15m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 71% of the 114 miles on major roads like I 73. You'll experience a longest stretch of 57.2 miles on I 73 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, with exits becoming more frequent as you approach your destination. The shift from highway to local roads will be noticeable, so stay alert for changes in speed limits and traffic patterns.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 73 and Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Greene Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 114 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 114 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 4 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 Maxton, 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. There are 4 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Maxton, NC before heading back.
