Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maine, NC
Mohan Nannapaneni
Fairplains, NC
Mark Stebnicki
If you are planning a trip from Maine to Fairplains, North Carolina, you are looking at a manageable 47.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily complete the round trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance, making it a very cost-effective commute within the Southeast region. Navigating this path involves utilizing US 421, Liberty Church Road, and Yadkinville Road to reach your destination. Because the trip is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it best suits your plans. It is a straightforward drive that connects two points in North Carolina without the need for complex multi-day logistics.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 421 | 19 mi | 21m |
| Liberty Church Road | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Yadkinville Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| US 21 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Statesville Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Lone Hickory Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Country Lane | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Sparta Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Fairplains, NC.
Start on Oak Grove Church Road
Turn left onto US 158
Turn right onto Country Lane
Turn right onto US 601
Continue on Liberty Church Road
Turn left onto Lone Hickory Road
Turn right onto US 21
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 421
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto US 421 Business; NC 115
Turn right onto NC 18; NC 268
Continue on NC 18
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Maine, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 158
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 601 / Yadkinville Road
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 421
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.77 | $17.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Maine on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Fairplains on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip offers a mixed driving experience that transitions between different types of road surfaces. You will spend about 49 percent of your time on highways, providing a nice balance between faster transit and local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 19-mile stretch along US 421, which allows for steady progress before you transition onto smaller roads. As you move away from the main highway, the character of the journey shifts toward the more localized feel of Liberty Church Road and Yadkinville Road. Expect a varied pace as you navigate these different segments, requiring you to stay alert to changing road types throughout the hour-long drive.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 158.
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 47.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 158): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 601 / Yadkinville Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.7 miles (US 421): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
841 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
1,286 ft
~47.4 mi in
Elevation Range
489 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Maine, NC to Fairplains, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.
Statesville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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