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Trip from Jacksonville, NC to Burlington, NC

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

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

176 mi

283 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

11 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 25m

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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city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States

Jacksonville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in Alamance and Guilford counties, North Carolina, United States

Burlington, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Jacksonville, NC to Burlington, NC covers 176 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, NC 24, Catherine Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.5 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

88 miles from Jacksonville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 69.5 mi 1h 19m
NC 24 59.8 mi 1h 4m
Catherine Lake Road 14.4 mi 21m
Richlands Highway 6.4 mi 9m
Jackson Store Road 6.3 mi 8m
NC 50 5.1 mi 6m
Hallsville Road 4.4 mi 5m
South Kenansville Bypass 3.9 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 69.5 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Burlington, NC.

1

Start on US 17 Business; NC 24 Business

1.1 mi · 1 min · Marine Boulevard
2

Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business

1.4 mi · 2 min · Richlands Highway
3

Continue on US 258; NC 24

5.0 mi · 7 min · Richlands Highway
4

Turn left onto NC 111

14 mi · 21 min · Catherine Lake Road
5

Turn right onto SR 1800

6.3 mi · 8 min · Jackson Store Road
6

At end of road, turn left onto Hallsville Road

4.4 mi · 5 min · Hallsville Road
7

At end of road, turn right onto NC 50

5.1 mi · 6 min · NC 50
8

Turn left onto D S Williams Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · D S Williams Road
9

Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903

3.9 mi · 5 min · South Kenansville Bypass
10

Take the exit onto NC 24

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · NC 24
Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

69 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 148 Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto NC 54

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Harden Street
14

Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54

98 ft · 1 sec · East Harden Street
15

Continue on NC 49; NC 54

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Harden Street
16

Take the exit onto NC 87

2.3 mi · 3 min · NC 87
17

Turn left onto South Worth Street

381 ft · 21 sec · South Worth Street
18

Turn right onto West Front Street

449 ft · 23 sec · West Front Street
19

Turn right onto US 70; NC 62

166 ft · 3 sec · South Church Street
20

Arrive at destination

US 70; NC 62

Trip Plan

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 88 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.5 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 39 miles or 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 88 miles or 1h 50m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, NC

This is one driving day of about 176 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Jacksonville, 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 69.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dunn, NC

88 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

Wallace, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dunn, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88 miles from Jacksonville, 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 69.5 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.

Top Restaurant

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raleigh, North Carolina

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 125.7

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 125.7

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

Waraji Japanese Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30 mile 125.7

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+19197831883

Visit website

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 125.7

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19197814810

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 138.3

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 150.9

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 150.9

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 150.9

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 163.4

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 163.4

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 176

Burlington, North Carolina

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Duplin County I-40 Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

IONNA Drivers Lounge

0.2 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Homestead Property Maintenance

0.4 mi from route

Children's Museum of Alamance County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 176

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13362287997

Visit website

Lake Johnson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 125.7

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+19199963141

Visit website

Lake Crabtree County Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 125.7

Morrisville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+19194603390

Visit website

Nature Research Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 113.1

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19197079800

Visit website

Piedmont Wildlife Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 138.3

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19194890900

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 113.1

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 12–8 pm

+19199484450

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 172.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
1.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
42.4 mi into trip | ~1h in | NC 24

Take the exit onto NC 24

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

Use the right lane.
6
102.2 mi into trip | ~2h 5m 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.
8
171.7 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in

Take the exit toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill

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. Exit 148 Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
5
172.7 mi into trip | ~3h 27m in | NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street

Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.84 one way

$55.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $30.44 $60.87
premium $4.70 $32.94 $65.89
diesel $5.61 $39.30 $78.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Smithfield's Chicken N Bar-B-Q - Tesla Supercharger

Warsaw, NC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Garner, NC Rechargery - NC-42

Garner, NC

IONNA

10 DCFC

Regency Centers Midtown East (Raleigh, NC)

Raleigh, NC

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q - Tesla Supercharger

Jacksonville, NC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hampton Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Benson, NC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q - Tesla Supercharger

Garner, NC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Capital Hyundai of Jacksonville

Jacksonville, NC

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Camp Lejeune/Jacksonville

Jacksonville, NC

UNIVERSAL

2 DCFC

Tesla: 4 UNIVERSAL: 1 Non-Networked: 1 NAYAX_ENERGY: 1 Blink Network: 1 IONNA: 1 Electrify America: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.8 0 $18.48 $8.45
Efficient EV 44 0 $15.40 $7.04
EV Truck/SUV 70.4 0 $24.64 $11.26

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Jacksonville, NC

Afternoon in Jacksonville on Sunday

Local time

1:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burlington, NC

Afternoon in Burlington on Sunday

Local time

1:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

17 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

3h 32m 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?

176 mi in 3h 32m, mostly highway — 69.5 mi of that is on I 40.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.5 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 24. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 176 miles you will encounter 16 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 1.1 miles (US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.4 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 176 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 69.5 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 Burlington, 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 1.1 miles (US 258; NC 24 Business / Richlands Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.4 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Burlington, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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