This 117.1-mile drive from James City, NC to Fayetteville, NC takes approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Richlands Road, Old Asphalt Road, and Old Pink Hill Road, with no highway driving involved. Expect a fuel cost of around $19 for this journey. Since it's a relatively short and direct route within the Southeast region, it offers flexibility for departure times and minimal need for extensive planning. This drive is ideal for those who prefer a more local feel over interstate travel.
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
58.6 miles from James City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 55
43.9 mi
1h 1m
US 70
34.4 mi
38m
Fayetteville Highway
9.2 mi
10m
Newton Grove Highway
7.8 mi
10m
Goldsboro Road
7.2 mi
8m
I 95 Business
5.6 mi
7m
Old Pink Hill Road
2.7 mi
4m
I 95
2.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NC 55
— 43.9 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between James City, NC and Fayetteville, NC.
1
Start on US 70
34 mi·38 min·US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 258
0.4 mi·37 sec·Richlands Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Old Asphalt Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Old Asphalt Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto NC 11; NC 55
2.7 mi·4 min·Old Pink Hill Road
5
Turn slight right onto NC 55
44 mi·1 hr 1 min·NC 55
6
Enter roundabout onto US 13
409 ft·9 sec·Fayetteville Street
7
Continue on US 13
0.7 mi·1 min·Fayetteville Street
8
Continue on US 13
7.8 mi·10 min·Newton Grove Highway
9
Merge onto US 13
9.2 mi·10 min·Fayetteville Highway
10
Continue on US 13
6.9 mi·8 min·Goldsboro Road
11
Turn left onto US 13
108 ft·2 sec·US 13
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 13
0.3 mi·30 sec·Goldsboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: Fayetteville, LumbertonUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi·2 min·I 95
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 Business
5.6 mi·7 min·I 95 Business
Exit 56Toward I 95 Business South, US 301: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope AFBUse the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 210
0.2 mi·30 sec·Grove Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto B Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·B Street
Use the left lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto Person Street
8 ft·0 sec·Person Street
19
Continue on Person Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·Person Street
20
Continue on Person Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Person Street
21
Enter roundabout onto Market Square
155 ft·2 sec·Market Square
22
Arrive at destination
Market Square
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 117.1-mile trip, you have the advantage of flexibility. Aim to depart when you feel most comfortable, as there are no significant stretches to necessitate an early start. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical journey. Since there are no designated stops or longest stretches noted, plan for brief breaks as needed at your discretion, perhaps in one of the towns along Richlands Road or Old Asphalt Road. Keep an eye out for the frequent turns characteristic of this local drive to ensure you stay on course.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.6 miles from James City, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 26 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 12m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving James City, 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 James City, NC
This is one driving day of about 117.2 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from James City, 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 NC 55 for about 43.9 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 107.3 and 116.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 13 / Goldsboro Road
Keep slight right at fork onto US 13 / Goldsboro Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
107.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Fayetteville, Lumberton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 South: Fayetteville, Lumberton
9
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 95 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 Business toward I 95 Business South, US 301: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope AFB
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 56
Toward I 95 Business South, US 301: Fayettevill...
6
116.3 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|B Street
Turn left onto B Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|Person Street
Enter roundabout onto Person Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.33 one way
$36.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.04
$40.08
premium
$4.70
$21.69
$43.38
diesel
$5.61
$25.88
$51.75
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: 41 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.69
EV Truck/SUV
46.9
0
$16.41
$7.50
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
James City, NC
Late night
in James City on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, NC
Late night
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mount Olive, NC
59 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
4 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
2h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through communities rather than high-speed highways. With 0% highway share, you can anticipate a consistent pace on local roads for the entire 117.1 miles. The road doesn't offer long, uninterrupted stretches, so staying alert and aware of your surroundings will be key. You'll experience the feel of driving through various local areas as you progress towards Fayetteville.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 55 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 107.3 miles in near US 13 / Goldsboro Road.
Driving Effort8/10
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 117.2 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 107.3 miles (US 13 / Goldsboro Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles (I 95 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between James City, NC and Fayetteville, NC, road signs point toward Lumberton, Fort Bragg and Pope Afb.
Fayetteville is a city in Cumberland County, in the western part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain region. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg/Liberty/Bragg (the name of which changed thrice in as many years,) a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the prestigious All-America City Award from the National Civic League three times. According to the 2020 United States Census estimate, the city has a population of 208,501. It ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina.
With an estimated population of 529,252, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 117.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from James City, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 117.2 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 55, US 70, Fayetteville Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.6 miles from James City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 117.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 107.3 miles (US 13 / Goldsboro Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles (I 95 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between James City, NC and Fayetteville, NC, road signs point toward Lumberton, Fort Bragg and Pope Afb.
