Traveling from Locust to Greensboro covers 77.5 miles, making it a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day of travel. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 42 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate through the Southeast region. With a fuel budget of roughly $12, this trip is quite economical for those looking to reach the city without breaking the bank. Because the duration is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you choose to linger. This route is best viewed as a practical, efficient connection between these two North Carolina points. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the straightforward nature of the drive makes for a stress-free experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Locust, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 49
28.5 mi
36m
I 73
24.1 mi
27m
Millingport Road
13.7 mi
19m
Running Creek Church Road
3.2 mi
4m
Freeman Mill Road
3 mi
4m
East Main Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Albemarle Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
NC 49
— 28.5 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Locust, NC and Greensboro, NC.
1
Start on this road
58 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left
200 ft·20 sec
3
Turn left
173 ft·17 sec
4
Turn left onto NC 200
309 ft·7 sec·South Central Avenue
5
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27
2.7 mi·4 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto Running Creek Church Road
3.2 mi·4 min·Running Creek Church Road
Use the left lane.
7
At end of road, turn right onto Millingport Road
14 mi·19 min·Millingport Road
8
Continue on South Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
9
Turn right onto NC 49
28 mi·36 min·NC 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on Albemarle Road
0.4 mi·40 sec·Albemarle Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
12
Merge onto I 73; I 74; US 220
6.5 mi·8 min·I 73; I 74; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 73; US 220
18 mi·19 min·I 73; US 220
Toward I 73 North, US 220 North: GreensboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Freeman Mill Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Freeman Mill Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn straight onto Freeman Mill Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·Freeman Mill Road
16
Continue on South Edgeworth Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Edgeworth Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West Market Street
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 77.5-mile distance without needing formal rest stops, though it is always smart to top off your tank before leaving Locust to keep your $12 fuel estimate accurate. Keep an eye on your navigation when transitioning between the local roads and the I 73 highway segments, as these interchanges are where you will make the most time. Because there are zero required stops on this route, you have the freedom to drive straight through or build in a quick break if you prefer a more leisurely pace. Prioritize leaving during off-peak hours to ensure the smoothest transition onto the highway portions of your trip.
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 38.7 miles from Locust, NC, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.5 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 54m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greensboro, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Locust, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Locust, NC
This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Locust, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 49 for about 28.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|Running Creek Church Road
Turn left onto Running Creek Church Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|I 73; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 73; US 220 toward I 73 North, US 220 North: Greensboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 73 North, US 220 North: Greensboro
7
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.25
$26.50
premium
$4.70
$14.34
$28.69
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Locust, NC
Morning
in Locust on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greensboro, NC
Morning
in Greensboro on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
9 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
1h 42m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive that balances different road types to get you to your destination efficiently. You will spend about 68% of your time on highways, transitioning between NC 49, I 73, and Millingport Road. A significant portion of your journey includes a 28.5-mile stretch on NC 49, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The character of the road shifts as you move from local stretches onto the faster-paced interstate segments. It is a functional drive that trades scenic variety for consistent progress, allowing you to maintain a steady pace throughout the 77.5-mile trek.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.5 mi on NC 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 49 and I 73. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 77.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Running Creek Church Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.5 miles on NC 49. 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 Greensboro, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Running Creek Church Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greensboro, NC before heading back.
