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Trip from High Point, NC to Half Moon, NC

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

Drive Time

4h 2m

Distance

197.4 mi

318 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 49m ★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 54m

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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Downtown Half Moon, NC, NC

Half Moon, NC

Rino Adamo

Trip Overview

This 197.4-mile drive from High Point, NC, to Half Moon, NC, will take you approximately 4 hours and 2 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfectly suited for a single day of travel. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, it's an economical option for a road trip. The route primarily utilizes I-40, US-64, and US-421, making for a largely efficient journey. Since both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory. This drive offers a practical way to cover ground without requiring an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

98.7 miles from High Point, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 60.4 mi 1h 4m
US 64 32 mi 42m
US 421 26.5 mi 32m
NC 24 23.3 mi 33m
Triangle Expressway 22 mi 23m
US 29 8.5 mi 9m
Gum Branch Road 6.8 mi 10m
South Kenansville Bypass 6 mi 8m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 60.4 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Main Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
3

Merge onto US 29

8.5 mi · 9 min · US 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit onto US 421

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 421
Exit 126 Toward US 421: Sanford Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421

26 mi · 32 min · US 421
Exit 126A Toward US 421 South: Sanford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 171 Toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn left onto US 64

11 mi · 15 min · US 64
Use the straight lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 64

21 mi · 27 min · US 64
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll South Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto NC 540 Toll

22 mi · 23 min · Triangle Expressway
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
13

Merge onto I 40

0.8 mi · 53 sec · I 40
14

Keep slight right at fork

1.7 mi · 1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 40

60 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
16

Take the exit onto NC 24

0.3 mi · 47 sec · NC 24
Toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
17

Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903

6.0 mi · 8 min · South Kenansville Bypass
18

Turn right onto NC 24

23 mi · 32 min · NC 24
19

Turn left onto West Franck Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · West Franck Street
20

Continue on Gum Branch Road

6.8 mi · 10 min · Gum Branch Road
21

Turn left onto Ramsey Road

96 ft · 1 sec · Ramsey Road
22

Arrive at destination

Ramsey Road

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour duration and 197.4-mile distance, this trip is ideal for a single day. Consider an early morning departure from High Point to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility in how you pace your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a stop is over 60 miles on I-40. A convenient tip for this route is to ensure you have snacks and drinks, as the highway-focused nature means services might be more spaced out between exits compared to a more local road experience.

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 98.7 miles from High Point, NC, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.4 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 43 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.7 miles or 2h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Half Moon, 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 197.4 miles and 4h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 60.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raleigh, NC

99 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

Graham, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Raleigh, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.7 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 60.4 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.

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.6

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19197814810

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 42.3

Siler City, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 42.3

Siler City, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 56.4

Pittsboro, North Carolina

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 56.4

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 56.4

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 56.4

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 197.4

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 70.5

Apex, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

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

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 14.1

Greensboro, North Carolina

+13368529721

Visit website

Game On Escapes & More - Cary

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 84.6

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 10:30 am–10:30 pm

+19194380798

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 10.5 and 98.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
10.5 mi into trip | ~13m 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.
7
16.3 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 421

Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421: Sanford

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 126 Toward US 421: Sanford
8
16.5 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 421

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward US 421 South: Sanford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 126A Toward US 421 South: Sanford
8
42.8 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the exit toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro

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 171 Toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
8
98.8 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.87 one way

$61.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $33.75 $67.50
premium $4.70 $36.53 $73.07
diesel $5.61 $43.58 $87.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.2 0 $20.73 $9.48
Efficient EV 49.4 0 $17.27 $7.90
EV Truck/SUV 79 0 $27.64 $12.63

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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 14, 2026

Origin

High Point, NC

Night in High Point on Saturday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Clear

SW 5 to 8 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

Half Moon, NC

Night in Half Moon on Saturday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°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

4h 2m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive that is predominantly on highways, with 90% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 60.4 miles on I-40, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The route's character is defined by its focus on efficient travel, rather than winding scenic byways. While primarily highway, the use of US-64 and US-421 will introduce some variations in the road's feel as you progress towards Half Moon. This is a route designed for getting you there with minimal fuss.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.4 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 miles in near I 85.

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 20 significant decision points across 197.4 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 10.5 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between High Point, NC and Half Moon, NC, road signs point toward Pittsboro, Wilmington and Kenansville.

Pittsboro

42.8 mi in | ~52m

Wilmington

100.6 mi in | ~2h 3m | via I 40

Kenansville

160.2 mi in | ~3h 7m | via NC 24

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 4h 2m. Total distance: 197.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 60.4 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.

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 Half Moon, 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 10.5 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Half Moon, 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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