If you are planning a trip from High Point to Southport, expect a straightforward journey covering 219.3 miles across North Carolina. The drive typically takes about 4 hours and 26 minutes, making it a manageable day trip for most travelers. You will primarily navigate via I-74, the Andrew Jackson Highway, and the American Indian Highway. Budgeting around $35 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the entire route remains within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural feel as you head toward the coast. While you could easily complete this in one day, having the flexibility to take a break mid-trip ensures you arrive at your destination refreshed.
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
109.7 miles from High Point, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
72.3 mi
1h 20m
Andrew Jackson Highway
44.3 mi
49m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 211
25.4 mi
34m
Southport-Supply Road Southeast
15 mi
21m
East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi
16m
US 220
4.8 mi
6m
Hamlet Avenue
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 72.3 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Southport, NC.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Russell Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·East Russell Avenue
3
Turn left onto Park Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Park Street
4
Turn right onto East Green Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·East Green Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 74
72 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 220
4.8 mi·6 min·US 220
Exit 22Toward US 220 South: RockinghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
2.5 mi·4 min·West Broad Avenue
9
Continue on US 74 BUS
3.5 mi·5 min·Hamlet Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
466 ft·11 sec·Raleigh Street
11
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
0.3 mi·41 sec·Spring Street
12
Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue
13 mi·16 min·East Hamlet Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
15
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·38 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
17
Turn right onto NC 211
25 mi·34 min·NC 211
18
Continue on NC 211
15 mi·21 min·Southport-Supply Road Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on NC 211
1.9 mi·3 min·North Howe Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Arrive at destination
NC 211
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 26-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach the coast with plenty of daylight remaining. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning off the main highways, as service availability can vary once you leave the primary corridors. Since this is a single-day trip, pack your snacks and drinks beforehand to maintain momentum during the longer stretches. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor your GPS closely during the transition from I-74 to the Andrew Jackson Highway, as these shifts require careful navigation.
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 109.7 miles from High Point, NC, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.3 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.7 miles or 2h 11m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, 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 219.3 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 74 for about 72.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 98.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|East Green Drive
Turn right onto East Green Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in|I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 220
Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward US 220 South: Rockingham
6
98.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.29 one way
$68.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.50
$74.99
premium
$4.70
$40.59
$81.18
diesel
$5.61
$48.42
$96.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.8
0
$23.03
$10.53
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.19
$8.77
EV Truck/SUV
87.7
1
$30.70
$14.04
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 12, 2026
Origin
High Point, NC
Late night
in High Point on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
S 3 to 8 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Southport, NC
Late night
in Southport on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
SE 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
61°F
Rockingham, NC
110 mi in
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
8 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 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing efficient highway travel with more localized road segments. Approximately 47% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a reliable pace for nearly half of the journey. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 72.3 miles while navigating I-74, which allows for steady cruising before you transition onto other routes. As you move away from the interstate, the character of the drive shifts, requiring more attention to road transitions. Expect a blend of fast-paced transit and slower, navigational driving as you move from the inland Piedmont toward the coast.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.3 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near East Green Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
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 219.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (East Green Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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...
Southport is a city on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Back in the 18th century, British settlements along this stretch of coast were afflicted by buccaneers and Spanish frigates to the point that a fortification named Fort Johnston had to be built, around which a town then called Smithville after Revolutionary War figure Benjamin Smith took shape, which eventually became known as Southport (in the hopes that it would initiate maritime traffic). But if anything Southport is a leisure and retirement haven, although granted it does have some military and nuclear power facilities nearby. It's also a filming location, such as for the movies Safe Haven and Nights in Rodanthe that you might have seen.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 219.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.3 miles on I 74. 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 0.8 miles (East Green Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 74): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Southport, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
