Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Late night in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, NC to Garner, 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
2h 19m
Distance
113 mi
182 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Garner, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Jacksonville, NC to Garner, NC is 113 miles and takes about 2h 19m via NC 24 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $18 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. For the most part, this is a highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a quick trip. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 24 | 59.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Catherine Lake Road | 14.4 mi | 21m |
| I 40 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| 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:
NC 24
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Garner, 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
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 70 West: Garner
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto US 70
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 70
14
Turn slight right
467 ft
·
17 sec
15
Turn right onto NC 50
416 ft
·
15 sec
·
Umstead Lane
16
At end of road, turn left onto Benson Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Benson Road
17
Arrive at destination
Benson Road
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of under 2.5 hours, this route offers flexibility for departure. You could leave Jacksonville, NC in the morning and arrive in Garner, NC by lunchtime. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $18, and plan your refueling before you get too low, especially before the longest stretch on NC 24. This is a straightforward drive, so focus on enjoying the ease of travel.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.5 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.5 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garner, 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 113 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Jacksonville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 24 for about 59.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.5 miles from Jacksonville, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 112.7 — 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.
6
109.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 70 West: Garner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 70 West: Garner
6
112.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
Benson Road
At end of road, turn left onto Benson Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.67 one way
$35.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.32 | $38.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.91 | $41.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.95 | $49.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.89 | $4.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Garner, NC
Late night in Garner on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
5 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
2h 19m 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 route is primarily highway driving, with 66% of the 113 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 59.8 miles on NC 24 before transitioning to I-40. Expect a consistent cruising speed for a significant portion of the drive, with the highway portion offering fewer interruptions than typical surface roads. The shift from NC 24 to I-40 will likely involve merging with faster-moving traffic.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and Catherine Lake Road. You will hit about 12 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 113 miles you will encounter 12 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.
About the Cities
Starting in Jacksonville, NC
Full guide →Jacksonville is the county seat of Onslow County, North Carolina. The home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Jacksonville is in North Carolina's Inner Banks region, approximately a one hour away from the "Port City" Wilmington.
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 2h 19m. Total distance: 113 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on NC 24. 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 Garner, 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. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Garner, 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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