Jacksonville, NC to Gastonia, NC is 261.6 miles and takes about 5h 34m via Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, and Burgaw Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, so plan for a more relaxed pace. It's a straightforward drive, ideal if you're looking for a direct route without too many complex transitions. This route is perfectly doable in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick trip.
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
130.8 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
73.8 mi
1h 27m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Burgaw Highway
30.6 mi
43m
Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi
21m
I 85
15.5 mi
19m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
NC 11
10.3 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,222 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~638 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Gastonia, 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 NC 53
31 mi·43 min·Burgaw Highway
4
Turn straight onto US 117 Business; NC 53
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Bridges Street
5
Turn left onto US 117 Business; NC 53
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Walker Street
6
Turn right onto NC 53
3.2 mi·5 min·East Wilmington Street
7
Turn left onto Malpass Corner Road
8.2 mi·11 min·Malpass Corner Road
8
Continue on NC 210
8.7 mi·13 min·Borough Road
9
Turn left onto NC 11
10 mi·14 min·NC 11
10
Merge onto US 74; US 76
42 mi·48 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
12
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
17
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.3 mi·8 min·W. Cliff Martin Highway
19
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi·3 min·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
20
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi·5 min·East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi·34 sec·Carroll M. Edwards Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi·21 min·Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi·9 min·Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi·6 min·East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.7 mi·44 sec·East Independence Boulevard
26
Merge onto I 277; US 74; NC 16; NC 27
2.3 mi·3 min·John Belk Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit onto NC 27
2.5 mi·4 min·NC 27
Exit 1AToward NC 27: Freedom DriveUse the left lane.
28
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Use the left lane.
29
Merge onto I 85
15 mi·19 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 19Toward NC 7: East GastoniaUse the right lane.
31
Turn right onto NC 7
0.6 mi·1 min·East Ozark Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on NC 7
0.7 mi·1 min·East Long Avenue
33
Turn left onto North Broad Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Turn right onto US 29; US 74; NC 274
0.5 mi·54 sec·East Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
35
Arrive at destination
US 29; US 74; NC 274
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 34 minute estimated drive time, leaving Jacksonville, NC in the morning should allow you to reach Gastonia, NC with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing; consider a mid-morning break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on Andrew Jackson Highway, as services might be less frequent on the surface road sections. The total fuel cost is estimated at $43. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 130.8 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 58 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.8 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gastonia, 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 261.6 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 73.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 159.6 and 259.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
159.6 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
174 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
7
207.2 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
241.2 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|NC 27
Take the exit onto NC 27 toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
7
259.4 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Take the exit toward NC 7: East Gastonia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 19
Toward NC 7: East Gastonia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.62 one way
$77.24 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$42.44
$84.89
premium
$4.49
$46.26
$92.53
diesel
$4.80
$49.40
$98.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
Efficient EV
65.4
0
$22.89
$10.46
EV Truck/SUV
104.6
1
$36.62
$16.74
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Night
in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Gastonia, NC
Night
in Gastonia on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 1 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
68°F
Aberdeen, NC
131 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
2 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
5h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 26% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 73.8 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. After the highway portions, you'll transition to American Indian Highway and Burgaw Highway, which are primarily surface roads. Expect more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you move away from the limited-access highways.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 159.6 miles in near US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 261.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 159.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.2 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
803 ft14 ft
Total Climb
820 ft
Total Descent
31 ft
Highest Point
803 ft
~261.6 mi in
Elevation Range
789 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Gastonia is a small city in the Piedmont of North Carolina, about 20 mi (32 km) west of the major United States city of Charlotte. In 2016, Gastonia had a population of 75,535, making it the third largest city of the Charlotte Metro.
Gastonia is the principal city and county seat of Gaston County, a large county comprising of several small towns. The population of Gaston County was 213,445 in 2015.
Top landmarks
•Gaston County Courthouse — county courthouse in Gastonia, United States of America
•Downtown Gastonia Historic District — historic district in Gastonia, North Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 261.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Gastonia, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 159.6 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.2 miles (US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gastonia, NC before the return drive.
