Origin
Hillsborough, NC
Late night in Hillsborough on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsborough, NC to High Point, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
56 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hillsborough, NC to High Point, NC is 56 miles and takes about 1h 7m via I 85 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within North Carolina, making it an easy day trip or a quick connection between two points in the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a straightforward journey. It's a practical drive, ideal for those who need to get from point A to point B efficiently without much fuss. Consider this route if you're looking for minimal travel time and maximum directness.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 32.5 mi | 37m |
| US 29 | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| South Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Churton Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| West King Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 32.5 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on West King Street
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
West King Street
2
Turn right onto US 70 Business; NC 86
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Churton Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 85; NC 86 Truck
32 mi
·
37 min
·
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29 South
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward South Main Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Hillsborough, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
6
34 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
41.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
7
47 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 South
7
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South Main Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.76 one way
$17.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.58 | $19.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.36 | $20.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.36 | $24.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.84 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
High Point, NC
Late night in High Point on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey utilizing major roads like I 85 and I 40. You'll experience a predominantly fast-paced drive, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 32.5 miles on I 85. The road character remains consistent for the majority of the trip, emphasizing efficiency over scenic detours. Expect smooth sailing on these interstates, allowing for a steady pace throughout the 1-hour-plus drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.5 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Hillsborough, NC
Full guide →Hillsborough is an incredibly historic town in North Carolina, important to the history of the state. Easily accessible from nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, it has a cute historic downtown and a "small town" feel.
Arriving 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.
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...
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 1h 7m. Total distance: 56 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.5 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 High Point, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at High Point, NC before heading back.
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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