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Trip from High Point, NC to Asheville, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 10m

Distance

161.5 mi

260 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 59m ★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Trip Overview

This 161.5-mile drive from High Point, NC, to Asheville, NC, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 3 hours and 10 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route is predominantly highway, making it a practical choice for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. Both locations are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure, allowing you to spend more time at your destination.

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

80.7 miles from High Point, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 142.2 mi 2h 41m
I 74 9.6 mi 11m
Billy Graham Freeway 4.6 mi 6m
South Main Street 3.9 mi 8m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 142.2 mi, about 2h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Asheville, NC.

1

Start on South Main Street

3.9 mi · 8 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Continue on this road

0.9 mi · 1 min · this road
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Merge onto I 74

8.6 mi · 9 min · I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto I 74

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 74
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
5

Merge onto I 40

142 mi · 2 hr 41 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 240

4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway
Toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward US 25 Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn right

45 ft · 3 sec
9

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

With a duration of just over 3 hours, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering plenty of flexibility. You can depart High Point in the morning and arrive in Asheville with ample daylight remaining. While the longest stretch without a major exit is over 140 miles on I-40, planning one stop around the halfway point should be sufficient for fuel and a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the mountain regions, as services can sometimes be more spread out than in flatter areas.

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 80.7 miles from High Point, NC, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.2 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 36 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.7 miles or 1h 37m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Asheville, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving High Point, 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 High Point, NC

This is one driving day of about 161.5 miles and 3h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from High Point, 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 40 for about 142.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Granite Falls, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Granite Falls, NC

81 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

Maine, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Granite Falls, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.7 miles from High Point, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Asheville, North Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 161.5

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

Given Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 11.5

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–12 pm

+13363317291

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 138.4

Old Fort, North Carolina

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 138.4

Old Fort, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Asheville Pinball Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 2–9 pm

+18287765671

Visit website

Asheville Free Walking Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18284190295

Visit website

Washington Terrace Community Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

High Point, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13368838599

Visit website

Adventure Landing Winston-Salem

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 23.1

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367684730

Visit website

Western North Carolina Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 161.5

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+18282598080

Visit website

Kersey Valley Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Archdale, North Carolina

+13364311700

Visit website

Safari Nation Winston-Salem

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 23.1

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13365233355

Visit website

Alex Cooper Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 57.7

Statesville, North Carolina

+17048783429

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 161.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 74

Merge onto I 74

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.5 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 74

Keep slight left at fork onto I 74 toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
5
14.5 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
156.7 mi into trip | ~3h 3m in | I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
6
161.3 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward US 25

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 25

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.26 one way

$50.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $27.61 $55.23
premium $4.70 $29.89 $59.78
diesel $5.61 $35.66 $71.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.4 0 $16.96 $7.75
Efficient EV 40.4 0 $14.13 $6.46
EV Truck/SUV 64.6 0 $22.61 $10.34

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

High Point, NC

Late night in High Point on Sunday

Local time

12:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Sunny

SW 8 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 6:18AM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 5:50AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Destination

Asheville, NC

Late night in Asheville on Sunday

Local time

12:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

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

39 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

3h 10m 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 highway-focused drive for this trip, with 97% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll be spending most of your time on I-40, I-74, and the Billy Graham Freeway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 142.2 miles on I-40, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a route primarily designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, offering a predictable driving experience.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.2 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 74. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near I 74.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 161.5 miles you will encounter 6 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 4.8 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from High Point, NC to Asheville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.

Statesville

13.5 mi in | ~20m | via I 74

About the Cities

Starting 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.

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 10m. Total distance: 161.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 142.2 miles on I 40. 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Asheville, 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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