High Point to Balfour is 176.1 miles and takes about 3h 31m via I 85, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving you from the Southeast region to another part of the same region. It's a straightforward drive with a significant portion on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances efficiency with some local road navigation. Consider this route if you're looking for a practical way to cover this distance without needing an overnight stay.
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
88.1 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 85
76.7 mi
1h 28m
US 29
18.6 mi
22m
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18.3 mi
19m
Andrew Jackson Highway
18.2 mi
21m
West Dixon Boulevard
15.7 mi
17m
East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
17m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.6 mi
8m
I 285
3.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Balfour, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto West Market Center Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·West Market Center Drive
3
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
0.3 mi·51 sec·Surrett Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
5
Merge onto US 29
1.2 mi·1 min·US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 29
14 mi·15 min·US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 29; US 70
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 64 West, US 70 West: CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 29; US 64; US 70
1.7 mi·2 min·US 29; US 64; US 70
9
Continue on US 29; US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·US 29; US 70
10
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.7 mi·3 min·I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
11
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi·4 min·I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 85; US 52
73 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·50 sec
Exit 10BToward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, ShelbyUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi·8 min·Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi·2 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Continue on US 74
12 mi·17 min·East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp onto US 74
16 mi·17 min·West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 74
18 mi·19 min·Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
19
Merge onto I 26; US 74
16 mi·19 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward Asheville
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 64 West: Hendersonville
21
Continue on US 64
0.4 mi·53 sec·Four Seasons Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto Thompson Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Thompson Street
23
Turn left onto Signal Hill Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Signal Hill Road
24
Continue on Berkeley Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Berkeley Road
25
Arrive at destination
Balfour Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 31m duration, leaving High Point in the morning will allow ample time to reach Balfour comfortably within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your pacing. The fuel cost is estimated at $28, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, especially before the longest stretch of 76.7 miles on I 85. Pay attention to the transition between highway and other road types, as this is where the driving experience changes. Plan your single stop strategically to break up the journey effectively.
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 88.1 miles from High Point, NC, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.1 miles or 1h 44m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Balfour, 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 176.1 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 85 for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 88.1 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 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 miles.
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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 101.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|Surrett Drive
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|US 29
Merge onto US 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.9 mi into trip|~21m in|US 29; US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 64 West, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 64...
5
24.5 mi into trip|~30m in|I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
101.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.54 one way
$55.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.11
$60.22
premium
$4.70
$32.59
$65.18
diesel
$5.61
$38.88
$77.76
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: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.49
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.65
$11.27
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Morning
in High Point on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SW 8 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
Balfour, NC
Morning
in Balfour on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
14 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 31m 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 offers a mixed drive, with 56% of it being on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 85, US 29, and the Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton Highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is 76.7 miles on I 85, providing a period of consistent highway travel. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift from faster interstate speeds to potentially more varied conditions on other roads. This blend means you'll experience both efficient cruising and moments that require more attention to local traffic patterns.
56% 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: 76.7 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Surrett Drive.
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 14 significant decision points across 176.1 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 1.7 miles (Surrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles (US 29; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between High Point, NC and Balfour, NC, road signs point toward Shelby and Asheville.
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...
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 176.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 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 Balfour, 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 1.7 miles (Surrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles (US 29; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Balfour, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
