Origin
Greensboro, NC
Late night in Greensboro on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greensboro, NC to Southmont, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43.6-mile drive from Greensboro, NC, to Southmont, NC, will take you about 54 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, easily manageable within a single day with plenty of flexibility. The route is primarily highway-focused, so expect a relatively quick journey. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region, staying within North Carolina for the entire trip. Budget around $7 for fuel, making this an economical option for a short excursion. Given the short duration, no overnight stays are necessary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 27.1 mi | 29m |
| Cotton Grove Road | 8 mi | 13m |
| US 29 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Freeman Mill Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West McGee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Greene Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 27.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greensboro, NC and Southmont, 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
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 29
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 91
Toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
12
Turn left onto NC 8
8.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Cotton Grove Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.3 — 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.
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 91
Toward NC 8: Lexington, Southmont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.82 one way
$13.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.45 | $14.91 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.07 | $16.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Southmont, NC
Late night in Southmont on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Predominantly a highway-focused experience, this route sees 73% of its mileage on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-85, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 27.1 miles. While the majority is interstate, the journey transitions to local roads like Cotton Grove Road and US 29 as you approach your destination. Expect a smooth, efficient drive with minimal distractions, ideal for covering ground quickly.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.1 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Cotton Grove Road. 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 Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 43.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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.
About the Cities
Starting in Greensboro, NC
Full guide →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.
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 54m. Total distance: 43.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.1 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Southmont, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 Southmont, NC before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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