Hot Springs, NC to Walnut Creek, NC is 18.1 miles and takes about 34 minutes via US 25, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, direct trip stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a quick hop that's perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. You'll find the majority of this drive is on main roads, making it straightforward for most travelers.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 25
9.9 mi
16m
Bridge Street
5 mi
7m
Walnut Creek Road
2.9 mi
9m
North Surpentine Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Spring Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 25
— 9.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, NC and Walnut Creek, NC.
1
Start on North Surpentine Avenue
0.2 mi·49 sec·North Surpentine Avenue
2
Continue on North Spring Street
461 ft·27 sec·North Spring Street
3
Turn left onto US 25; US 70
5.0 mi·7 min·Bridge Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 25; US 70
9.9 mi·16 min·US 25; US 70
5
Turn sharp left onto Walnut Creek Road
2.9 mi·9 min·Walnut Creek Road
6
Arrive at destination
Walnut Creek Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 15.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 25; US 70 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto US 25; US 70 / Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
4
5.3 mi into trip|~9m in|US 25; US 70
At end of road, turn right onto US 25; US 70
Navigation decision point
5
15.2 mi into trip|~25m in|Walnut Creek Road
Turn sharp left onto Walnut Creek Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.67 one way
$5.34 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg6 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$2.94
$5.87
premium
$4.49
$3.20
$6.40
diesel
$4.80
$3.42
$6.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
5.4
0
$1.90
$0.87
Efficient EV
4.5
0
$1.58
$0.72
EV Truck/SUV
7.2
0
$2.53
$1.16
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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 Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Hot Springs, NC
Morning
in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 11:02AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 10:39AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Walnut Creek, NC
Morning
in Walnut Creek on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 11:02AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 10:39AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
3 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
34m 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 experience, with 55% of it on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 9.9 miles along US 25. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. The transition between these road types is gradual, providing a varied but manageable driving experience throughout the 34-minute journey.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.9 mi on US 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 25; US 70 / Bridge Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hot Springs, NC to Walnut Creek, NC is easy. At 34m with 55% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 25; US 70 / Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (US 25; US 70): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (Walnut Creek Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,291 ft1,394 ft
Total Climb
1,601 ft
Total Descent
896 ft
Highest Point
2,291 ft
~7.8 mi in
Elevation Range
897 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Hot Springs is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States.
Hot Springs is located at the confluence of the French Broad River and Spring Creek. A natural thermal spring is located here, the only hot spring known in North Carolina and in much of the southeastern United States. Thus, this area has long been a destination for those looking for therapeutic relief from their ailments.
The longest stretch is about 9.9 miles on US 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (US 25; US 70 / Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (US 25; US 70): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (Walnut Creek Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Walnut Creek, NC before heading back.
