Jacksonville, NC to Oak Ridge, NC is 212.3 miles and takes about 4h 15m via I 40 and NC 24, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With most of the miles on the highway, expect a fairly straightforward trip. It's a manageable distance for a single day, so you can decide when to depart and how often to stop.
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
106.2 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
103 mi
1h 59m
NC 24
59.8 mi
1h 4m
Catherine Lake Road
14.4 mi
21m
State Highway 68
6.7 mi
9m
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
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 103 mi, about 1h 59m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,187 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,692
Quietest
2 AM
~210 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Oak Ridge, 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
86 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
9.2 mi·11 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 210Toward NC 68: High Point, Piedmont Triad International AirportUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
414 ft·10 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
321 ft·7 sec
Toward NC 68 North: Piedmont Triad International AirportUse the right lane.
17
Merge onto NC 68
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn slight right
156 ft·5 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Oak Ridge before evening. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, and with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $35. Since this is a one-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule. A good tip for this route is to fill up before you get too far off I 40, as services can become more spread out on the latter half of the drive.
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 106.2 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103 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 47 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Ridge, 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 212.3 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 103 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.4 and 205.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
188.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
205.2 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward NC 68: High Point, Piedmont Triad International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 210
Toward NC 68: High Point, Piedmont Triad Intern...
8
205.5 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NC 68 North: Piedmont Triad International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 68 North: Piedmont Triad Internationa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.77 one way
$67.53 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$36.82
$73.64
premium
$4.78
$39.94
$79.89
diesel
$5.35
$44.72
$89.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
EV Charging Along Route
10 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
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.29
$10.19
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.58
$8.49
EV Truck/SUV
84.9
1
$29.72
$13.59
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Evening
in Jacksonville on Wednesday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 11:23AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 11:23AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Oak Ridge, NC
Evening
in Oak Ridge on Wednesday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 11:23AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 11:23AM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
1 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
4h 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 82% highway, meaning you'll spend the bulk of your time on interstate cruising. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 103 miles on I 40. You'll transition from I 40 to NC 24, where the highway driving will eventually give way to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a noticeable increase in exits and local traffic as you move off the interstate.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.4 miles in near NC 24.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 212.3 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 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; at 188.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
940 ft14 ft
Total Climb
1,044 ft
Total Descent
118 ft
Highest Point
940 ft
~212.3 mi in
Elevation Range
926 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 212.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Oak Ridge, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 188.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Oak Ridge, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
