Origin
Grifton, NC
Late night in Grifton on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grifton, NC to High Point, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
181.9 mi
293 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 35m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 44m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grifton, NC
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
This 181.9-mile drive from Grifton, NC to High Point, NC takes about 3 hours and 34 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on major highways, with about 61% of the journey on interstates and highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $28. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this trip is best suited for a single day, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a straightforward journey through the Southeast region, connecting two points within North Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.9 miles from Grifton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 42.3 mi | 48m |
| John P East Memorial Highway | 32.8 mi | 35m |
| I 587 | 29.8 mi | 31m |
| Northern Wake Expressway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| US 29 | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| Greenville Southwest Bypass | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| South Miami Boulevard | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 42.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grifton, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on South Gordon Street
426 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Gordon Street
2
Turn left onto NC 118
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Queen Street
3
Turn right onto North Highland Avenue
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Highland Avenue
4
Turn left onto W W Gaskins Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
W W Gaskins Road
5
Turn right onto NC 11
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 11
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 11 BYP
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Greenville Southwest Bypass
Toward NC 11 Bypass North: Greenville, Washington
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 587 West: Wilson
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 587
33 mi
·
35 min
·
John P East Memorial Highway
9
Merge onto I 587; I 795; US 264
30 mi
·
31 min
·
I 587; I 795; US 264
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
11
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
12
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Rolesville Road
13
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Marks Creek Road
14
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Horton Road
15
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
17
Merge onto I 540
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 70 West: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
New Raleigh Highway
21
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
42 mi
·
48 min
·
I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29 South
Use the slight right lane.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward South Main Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 34-minute trip, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour traffic, especially as you approach High Point. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The longest stretch without a major turn is 42.3 miles on I 85, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Given the modest $28 fuel cost and the single-day feasibility, you can easily complete this drive without needing to break it up. A practical tip: keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from I 587 onto John P East Memorial Highway, as this is where the road character might shift.
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 90.9 miles from Grifton, NC, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grifton, 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 Grifton, NC
This is one driving day of about 181.9 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Grifton, 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 85 for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.9 miles from Grifton, 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 180 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
NC 11 BYP / Greenville Southwest Bypass
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 11 BYP / Greenville Southwest Bypass toward NC 11 Bypass North: Greenville, Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 11 Bypass North: Greenville, Washingt...
7
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
8
167.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
7
172.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 South
7
180 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South Main Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.45 one way
$56.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.10 | $62.20 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.67 | $67.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.16 | $80.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.6 | 0 | $19.10 | $8.73 |
| Efficient EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.47 | $11.64 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
High Point, NC
Late night in High Point on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 9 mph
1% 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
6 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
3h 34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 181.9-mile route. With 61% of the journey on main roads like I 85 and I 587, you'll encounter mostly faster speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 42.3 miles on I 85, offering a good period of consistent travel. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of John P East Memorial Highway suggests some variation in the driving experience, potentially introducing more local road characteristics as you transition between major arteries. This profile suggests a drive that balances efficiency with occasional shifts in road type.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and John P East Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in near NC 11 BYP / Greenville Southwest Bypass.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 181.9 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: at 6.3 miles (NC 11 BYP / Greenville Southwest Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 167.5 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in High Point, NC
Full guide →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
- • Highland Cotton Mills Village Historic District — historic district in High Point, North Carolina
- • Pickett Cotton Mills — historic industrial property at 1200 Redding Drive in southwestern High Point, N...
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 3h 34m. Total distance: 181.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 High Point, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles (NC 11 BYP / Greenville Southwest Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 167.5 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at High Point, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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