High Point, NC to Southern Shores, NC is 301 miles and takes about 6h 8m via US 64 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a good option if you want to get to your destination efficiently. With a recommended one-day trip, you can plan to depart in the morning and arrive in the evening.
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
150.5 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
105.8 mi
2h 1m
I 40
67.1 mi
1h 17m
United States Highway 64 East
40.5 mi
49m
US 64 ALT
20.2 mi
28m
I 87
16.8 mi
17m
South Croatan Highway
14.9 mi
23m
US 29
14.4 mi
16m
I 440
9.2 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 105.8 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Southern Shores, 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 right at fork onto US 29
5.9 mi·6 min·US 29
Toward US 29, US 70Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·42 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
30 mi·34 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: RaleighUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi·3 min·Wade Avenue
Exit 289Toward Wade AvenueUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
9
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi·11 min·I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi·17 min·I 87; US 64; US 264
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
80 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 64
13
Turn right onto US 64 ALT
20 mi·28 min·US 64 ALT
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 64; NC 32
1.0 mi·1 min·United States Highway 64 East
15
Continue on US 64; NC 32
2.3 mi·3 min·U.S. Highway 64 East
16
Continue on US 64
40 mi·47 min·United States Highway 64 East
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
26 mi·35 min·US 64
18
Continue on US 64
516 ft·10 sec·South Virginia Dare Trail
19
Continue on US 158
15 mi·23 min·South Croatan Highway
20
Take the exit
269 ft·7 sec
21
Turn straight onto SR 1493
1.5 mi·2 min·Ocean Boulevard
22
Turn straight onto NC 12
1.5 mi·4 min·Duck Road
23
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi·57 sec·3rd Avenue
24
Continue on 3rd Avenue
256 ft·15 sec·3rd Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given that this trip is manageable in about 6 hours, departing in the morning should allow ample time to reach Southern Shores without feeling rushed. You'll only need one stop, so consider breaking up the longest stretch of 105.8 miles on US 64 for fuel or a quick break. The fuel cost is estimated at $47, so plan accordingly. Since it's a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.5 miles from High Point, NC, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.8 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 66 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southern Shores, 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 301 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 US 64 for about 105.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.5 and 96.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~13m in|US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29, US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29, US 70
6
16.5 mi into trip|~20m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.44 one way
$88.88 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$48.84
$97.67
premium
$4.49
$53.23
$106.46
diesel
$4.80
$56.83
$113.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.14
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
High Point, NC
Late night
in High Point on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
S 3 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:27PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:01PM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Southern Shores, NC
Late night
in Southern Shores on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
E 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:27PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 2:01PM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
National Memorial
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane fli...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 301 miles spent on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 105.8 miles on US 64, indicating significant periods of uninterrupted cruising. The highway portion will likely involve frequent exits and entrances as you navigate through various towns and cities before eventually transitioning to surface roads for the final leg.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.8 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 40. 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 US 29.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 301 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 (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
922 ft0 ft
Total Climb
202 ft
Total Descent
1,113 ft
Highest Point
922 ft
Elevation Range
922 ft
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 Southern Shores, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
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...
Southern Shores is a town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. From the beautiful oceanfront to the sound, Southern Shores has been the best kept secret on the Outer Banks since 1947. The beaches are private and uncrowded. A community soundside bathing beach and playground are great for families with small children. And while it is a residential area, Southern Shores is just minutes from shops, restaurants, and area attractions.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 301 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.8 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Southern Shores, 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wright Brothers National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southern Shores, NC before the return drive.
