If you are planning a trip from Maine, NC to Surf City, NC, expect a straightforward journey covering 251.7 miles. You should budget about 5 hours and 7 minutes of total drive time, making this a manageable route to complete in a single day. Since the trek stays within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you will find consistent road conditions throughout your travel. With a fuel estimate of approximately $40, it is a relatively affordable excursion. While a single day is sufficient for the drive, you might consider an overnight stay if you prefer a more relaxed pace upon arriving at the coast. Ultimately, this is a practical, highway-focused route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.9 miles from Maine, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
97.9 mi
1h 47m
US 421
38.8 mi
46m
NC 50
36.2 mi
52m
US 64
32 mi
42m
Triangle Expressway
22 mi
23m
Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi
12m
South Kenansville Bypass
4.1 mi
5m
NC 41
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 97.9 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Surf City, NC.
1
Start on Oak Grove Church Road
48 ft·3 sec·Oak Grove Church Road
2
Turn right onto US 158
1.8 mi·2 min·US 158
3
Turn left onto US 158
200 ft·5 sec·US 158
4
Turn straight onto Farmington Road
0.3 mi·36 sec·Farmington Road
5
Enter roundabout
64 ft·2 sec
6
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
37 mi·42 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
12 mi·13 min·US 421
Toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 421
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 421
Exit 126Toward US 421: SanfordUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
26 mi·32 min·US 421
Exit 126AToward US 421 South: SanfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 171Toward US 64: Siler City, PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto US 64
11 mi·15 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
21 mi·27 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll SouthUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
22 mi·23 min·Triangle Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
17
Merge onto I 40
0.8 mi·53 sec·I 40
18
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland RdUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 40
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
20
Take the exit onto NC 24
0.3 mi·47 sec·NC 24
Toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
21
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
4.1 mi·5 min·South Kenansville Bypass
22
Turn right onto D S Williams Road
0.9 mi·1 min·D S Williams Road
23
Turn right onto NC 50
11 mi·14 min·NC 50
24
Continue on NC 41; NC 50
1.9 mi·2 min·NC 41; NC 50
25
Turn right onto NC 50
3.0 mi·4 min·NC 50
26
Continue on Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi·12 min·Cypress Creek Road
27
Turn left onto Sycamore Springs Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Sycamore Springs Road
28
Continue on Old Maple Hill Road North
1.4 mi·2 min·Old Maple Hill Road North
29
Turn left onto NC 50
5.1 mi·7 min·NC 50
30
Turn right onto NC 50
17 mi·24 min·NC 50
31
Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210
113 ft·2 sec·NC 50; NC 210
32
Continue on NC 50; NC 210
0.8 mi·1 min·NC 50; NC 210
33
Enter roundabout onto NC 210
225 ft·4 sec·North New River Drive
34
Continue on NC 210
126 ft·2 sec·North New River Drive
35
Continue on North New River Drive
202 ft·10 sec·North New River Drive
36
Turn left onto Roland Avenue
109 ft·12 sec·Roland Avenue
37
Continue on Roland Avenue
76 ft·1 sec·Roland Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Roland Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your trip stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 251.7-mile journey to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is primarily highway-based, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuting hours on I-40, which can significantly impact your travel time. Keep your $40 fuel budget handy, but remember to monitor your vehicle's consumption during the longest 97.9-mile stretch to ensure you aren't caught off guard. Because this is a one-day trip, the flexibility of your schedule is your best asset; feel free to adjust your departure time based on your preferred arrival at Surf City. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition from the interstate onto the secondary highways of NC-50 near your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.9 miles from Maine, NC, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.9 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.9 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surf City, 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.
+
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 Maine, NC
This is one driving day of about 251.7 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Maine, 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 I 40 for about 97.9 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.8 and 134.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
39.8 mi into trip|~46m in|US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
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 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durh...
7
52 mi into trip|~59m in|US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421: Sanford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 126
Toward US 421: Sanford
8
52.3 mi into trip|~1h in|US 421
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward US 421 South: Sanford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 126A
Toward US 421 South: Sanford
8
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 171
Toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
8
134.6 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.36 one way
$78.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$43.04
$86.07
premium
$4.70
$46.58
$93.17
diesel
$5.61
$55.57
$111.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.43
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
EV Truck/SUV
100.7
1
$35.24
$16.11
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Maine, NC
Night
in Maine on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Surf City, NC
Night
in Surf City on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 225.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily weighted toward highway travel, with 92% of the route utilizing major thoroughfares like I-40, US-421, and NC-50. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.9 miles on I-40. The character of the drive is consistent and fast-paced, prioritizing speed and efficiency over winding backroads. As you transition from the inland highways toward the coast, the road environment remains functional and focused on high-speed transit. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that is well-suited for drivers who prefer interstate travel over navigating complex local traffic.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 421. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.8 miles in near US 421.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 251.7 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 39.8 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maine, NC and Surf City, NC, road signs point toward Durham, Pittsboro, Wilmington and Kenansville.
Durham
39.8 mi in|~46m|via US 421
Pittsboro
78.6 mi in|~1h 32m
Wilmington
136.4 mi in|~2h 43m|via I 40
Kenansville
195.9 mi in|~3h 47m|via NC 24
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 251.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Surf City, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.8 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Surf City, NC before the return drive.
