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Trip from Maine, NC to Jefferson, NC

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

Drive Time

1h 47m

Distance

77.3 mi

124 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 40m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Maine, NC, NC

Maine, NC

Mohan Nannapaneni

town in Ashe County, North Carolina, United States

Jefferson, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 77.3-mile journey from Maine, NC, to Jefferson, NC, is a manageable 1-hour and 47-minute drive, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Country Lane, Yadkinville Road, and Liberty Church Road, with no highway time involved, offering a true taste of the local landscape. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $12, which is quite economical. Given the relatively short distance and lack of highway segments, this route is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, allowing you to soak in the transition within the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive with no need to break it up into multiple days.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38.7 miles from Maine, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 421 26.9 mi 33m
NC 16 25.8 mi 37m
Liberty Church Road 8.1 mi 11m
Yadkinville Road 4.9 mi 7m
US 21 3.9 mi 5m
Lone Hickory Road 2.8 mi 4m
Country Lane 2.3 mi 3m
US 221 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 421 — 26.9 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Jefferson, NC.

1

Start on Oak Grove Church Road

48 ft · 8 sec · Oak Grove Church Road
2

Turn left onto US 158

0.5 mi · 42 sec · US 158
3

Turn right onto Country Lane

2.3 mi · 3 min · Country Lane
4

Turn right onto US 601

4.9 mi · 7 min · Yadkinville Road
5

Continue on Liberty Church Road

8.1 mi · 11 min · Liberty Church Road
6

Turn left onto Lone Hickory Road

2.8 mi · 4 min · Lone Hickory Road
7

Turn right onto US 21

3.9 mi · 5 min · US 21
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
9

Merge onto US 421

27 mi · 33 min · US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto NC 16

19 mi · 27 min · NC 16
11

Turn left onto Trading Post Road

217 ft · 3 sec · Trading Post Road
12

Continue on J W Luke Road

0.2 mi · 17 sec · J W Luke Road
13

At end of road, turn left onto NC 16

3.8 mi · 5 min · NC 16
14

At end of road, turn left onto NC 16; NC 88

3.1 mi · 4 min · NC 16; NC 88
15

Continue on US 221; NC 88

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 221; NC 88
16

Continue on US 221 Business; NC 88

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
17

Arrive at destination

US 221 Business; NC 88

Trip Plan

Given this route's 1-hour-and-47-minute duration and 77.3-mile length, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. Leaving in the morning will allow you to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed, and you won't need to worry about splitting the trip or finding overnight accommodations. With a low fuel cost of approximately $12, keeping your tank full is simple. Pay close attention to the numerous turns indicated by the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile; a good GPS or pre-downloaded map is highly recommended to navigate these effectively, especially on roads like Liberty Church Road.

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 Maine, NC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 17 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.7 miles or 52m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Maine, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Maine, NC

This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Maine, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 421 for about 26.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown North Wilkesboro, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Wilkesboro, NC

39 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

Yadkinville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Wilkesboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.7 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Havana Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.3

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+13368462800

Top Coffee Stop

Bohemia Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 77.3

Hours: 7 am–5:30 pm

+13368461498

Visit website

Havana Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.3

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+13368462800

Bohemia Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 77.3

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–5:30 pm

+13368461498

Visit website

Great Southern Gothic: Escape Room & Curiosity Shoppe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 77.3

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+13368462410

Visit website

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 72.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 158

Turn left onto US 158

Navigation decision point

4
2.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 601 / Yadkinville Road

Turn right onto US 601 / Yadkinville Road

Navigation decision point

5
22.7 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 421

Merge onto US 421

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
68.6 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | NC 16

At end of road, turn left onto NC 16

Navigation decision point

5
72.5 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | NC 16; NC 88

At end of road, turn left onto NC 16; NC 88

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.09 one way

$24.18 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $13.22 $26.43
premium $4.70 $14.31 $28.61
diesel $5.61 $17.07 $34.13

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 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 23.2 0 $8.12 $3.71
Efficient EV 19.3 0 $6.76 $3.09
EV Truck/SUV 30.9 0 $10.82 $4.95

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 16, 2026

Origin

Maine, NC

Late night in Maine on Sunday

Local time

3:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Sunny

SW 5 to 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 6:18AM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 5:50AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Destination

Jefferson, NC

Late night in Jefferson on Sunday

Local time

3:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°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

43 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

1h 47m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 77.3-mile trip, as the highway share is 0%. This means you'll be constantly adjusting your course, making it an engaging experience for those who enjoy navigating varied local roads. The route unfolds with frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches, keeping you actively involved in the driving process. Without any significant highway segments, the character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on the local infrastructure and the nuances of secondary roads throughout the 1 hour and 47-minute journey.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on US 421.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 421 and NC 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 158.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on US 421. 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: 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jefferson, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Jefferson, NC to Maine, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

77.3 mi 1h 47m

Continue From Jefferson, NC

Raleigh, NC 188.9 mi · 3h 56m Durham, NC 165.6 mi · 3h 27m Winston-Salem, NC 86.2 mi · 1h 52m

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