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Trip from Lola, NC to Morehead City, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

59m

Distance

39.6 mi

64 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lola, NC, NC

Lola, NC

Mark Stebnicki

city in North Carolina, United States

Morehead City, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Lola to Morehead City is 39.6 miles and takes about 59 minutes via US 70, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a quick trip that's mostly highway driving. It's a straightforward journey perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed if you're looking for a no-frills transfer.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 70 29.5 mi 45m
NC 12 8.3 mi 11m
Lola Road 1.7 mi 2m
North 17th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 70 — 29.5 mi, about 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lola, NC and Morehead City, NC.

1

Start on Lola Road

1.7 mi · 2 min · Lola Road
2

Turn left onto NC 12

8.3 mi · 11 min · NC 12
3

Continue on US 70

8.2 mi · 12 min · US 70
4

Turn sharp right onto US 70

6.2 mi · 9 min · US 70
5

Turn right onto US 70

6.4 mi · 9 min · US 70
6

Continue on US 70

8.7 mi · 14 min · US 70
Use the left / straight lanes.
7

Turn right onto North 17th Street

143 ft · 10 sec · North 17th Street
8

Turn left

194 ft · 14 sec
9

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Harkers Island, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harkers Island, NC

20 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Atlantic Beach, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harkers Island, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Lola, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
1.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | NC 12

Turn left onto NC 12

Navigation decision point

5
18.3 mi into trip | ~25m in | US 70

Turn sharp right onto US 70

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

3
24.4 mi into trip | ~35m in | US 70

Turn right onto US 70

Navigation decision point

4
39.5 mi into trip | ~59m in | North 17th Street

Turn right onto North 17th Street

Navigation decision point

5
39.6 mi into trip | ~59m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.19 one way

$12.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $6.77 $13.54
premium $4.70 $7.33 $14.66
diesel $5.61 $8.74 $17.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.9 0 $4.16 $1.90
Efficient EV 9.9 0 $3.47 $1.58
EV Truck/SUV 15.8 0 $5.54 $2.53

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 12, 2026

Origin

Lola, NC

Evening in Lola on Sunday

Local time

5:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Morehead City, NC

Evening in Morehead City on Sunday

Local time

5:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

14 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

59m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend most of your time on US 70, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 29.5 miles on this main artery. The profile suggests a consistent pace, minimizing slowdowns and maximizing travel efficiency. While Lola Road and NC 12 are part of the mix, the core of the experience is the open highway, making for a predictable and rapid transit.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.5 mi on US 70.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and NC 12. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near NC 12.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lola, NC to Morehead City, NC is easy. At 59m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (NC 12): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (US 70): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 24.4 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 29.5 miles on US 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: at 1.7 miles (NC 12): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (US 70): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 24.4 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Cape Lookout National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morehead City, NC before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Lola, NC or browse trips ending in Morehead City, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.