Jacksonville, NC to Waxhaw, NC is 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 57m via Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, and Burgaw Highway, with a fuel budget near $38 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. The route primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience compared to interstate cruising. Given its manageable length and duration, this is a straightforward one-day drive, perfect for getting to your destination without an overnight stay.
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
114 miles from Jacksonville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m 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
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi
17m
Waxhaw Highway
10.3 mi
15m
NC 11
10.3 mi
14m
Borough Road
8.7 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, NC and Waxhaw, 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 right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi·10 min·US 74
Exit 273Toward US 74 West: Wingate, MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Franklin Street
1.7 mi·3 min·Franklin Street
24
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto North Charlotte Avenue
264 ft·8 sec·North Charlotte Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto West Franklin Street
1.1 mi·2 min·West Franklin Street
27
Continue on Waxhaw Highway
3.7 mi·5 min·Waxhaw Highway
Use the straight lane.
28
Enter roundabout onto NC 75
69 ft·1 sec·Waxhaw Highway
29
Continue on NC 75
6.6 mi·9 min·Waxhaw Highway
30
Continue on NC 75
0.5 mi·42 sec·East South Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
NC 75
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day drive, leaving Jacksonville, NC in the morning will give you ample time to reach Waxhaw, NC before evening. The drive is under 5 hours, so you may only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 73.8-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway, as services might be less frequent on these main surface roads. The $38 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your trip. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 114 miles from Jacksonville, NC, or about 2h 30m 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 50 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114 miles or 2h 30m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waxhaw, 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 228.1 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 63.8 and 216.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Merge onto US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
9
207.2 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|US 74
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 toward US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 273
Toward US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe
5
216.1 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|North Charlotte Avenue
Turn left onto North Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.28 one way
$72.56 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$39.56
$79.12
premium
$4.78
$42.92
$85.83
diesel
$5.35
$48.04
$96.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.4
0
$23.95
$10.95
Efficient EV
57
0
$19.96
$9.12
EV Truck/SUV
91.2
1
$31.93
$14.60
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, NC
Afternoon
in Jacksonville on Wednesday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 8 to 14 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 1:20PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 11:33AM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Waxhaw, NC
Afternoon
in Waxhaw on Wednesday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
NE 9 to 13 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 1:20PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 11:33AM EDT until June 2 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
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
4h 57m 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?
You'll spend about 14% of your drive on highways, with the bulk of the 228.1 miles on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 73.8 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads relatively early in your trip. The profile suggests mostly surface roads, meaning you'll likely encounter more local traffic and fewer exits than on an interstate.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 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?
7/10
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 63.8 miles in near US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway.
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 14 significant decision points across 228.1 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 63.8 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
664 ft2 ft
Total Climb
815 ft
Total Descent
164 ft
Highest Point
664 ft
~228.1 mi in
Elevation Range
662 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jacksonville, NC to Waxhaw, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
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.
The Charlotte Metro (also "Metrolina") is a region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte in the Piedmont of the Southeastern United States.
The Charlotte metropolitan area is well known for its auto racing history (especially NASCAR). The region is headquarters to 8 Fortune 500 and 7 Fortune 1000 companies including Bank of America, Duke Energy, Sealed Air Corporation, Nucor Steel, and Lowe's Home Improvement Stores. Additional headquarters include Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Cheerwine
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 228.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m 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 4 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 Waxhaw, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 63.8 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Waxhaw, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
