If you are planning a trip from Northlakes to Greensboro, expect a journey covering 106.5 miles that typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the trip. Since both your start and end points are located within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the entire drive. This route is an ideal choice if you prefer navigating local roads over the monotony of major interstates. Overall, it is a straightforward, manageable trek that offers a consistent pace for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Northlakes, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
92.9 mi
1h 46m
Freeman Mill Road
2.8 mi
4m
Hickory Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
2m
2nd Avenue Southwest
0.9 mi
1m
3rd Avenue Drive Northwest
0.7 mi
1m
River Bend Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Old Lenoir Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northlakes, NC and Greensboro, NC.
1
Start on Woodmere Point
503 ft·25 sec·Woodmere Point
2
Turn left onto White Fawn Circle
0.1 mi·31 sec·White Fawn Circle
3
Continue on River Bend Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·River Bend Drive
4
Turn right onto Blackhawk Ridge Way
0.2 mi·46 sec·Blackhawk Ridge Way
5
Turn left onto Gunpowder View Circle
0.1 mi·27 sec·Gunpowder View Circle
6
Turn right onto Riverbend Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Riverbend Drive
7
Enter roundabout
146 ft·7 sec
8
Continue
431 ft·18 sec
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·28 sec·this road
10
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·1 min·this road
11
Turn right onto River Bend Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·River Bend Drive
12
Turn left onto US 321
2.7 mi·4 min·Hickory Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Clement Boulevard Northwest
522 ft·16 sec·Clement Boulevard Northwest
14
Continue on Old Lenoir Road
0.5 mi·52 sec·Old Lenoir Road
15
Continue on 11th Street Northwest
0.2 mi·17 sec·11th Street Northwest
16
Continue on 3rd Avenue Drive Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue Drive Northwest
17
Turn straight onto 2nd Avenue Northwest
0.3 mi·36 sec·2nd Avenue Northwest
18
Turn right onto 4th Street Northwest
0.2 mi·18 sec·4th Street Northwest
19
Continue on 4th Street Southwest
0.2 mi·25 sec·4th Street Southwest
20
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Southwest
0.9 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue Southwest
21
Continue on Tate Boulevard Southeast
0.2 mi·22 sec·Tate Boulevard Southeast
22
Turn right onto Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·2 min·Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Southeast
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
24
Merge onto I 40
86 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
6.7 mi·8 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, MartinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 218BToward Freeman Mill RoadUse the slight right lane.
27
Merge onto Freeman Mill Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Freeman Mill Road
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn straight onto Freeman Mill Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·Freeman Mill Road
29
Continue on South Edgeworth Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Edgeworth Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West Market Street
Use the right lane.
31
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 1-day trip with no scheduled stops, your biggest advantage is total flexibility regarding your departure time. Given the nature of the local roads, it is wise to check your route navigation before heading out to ensure you are comfortable with the frequent turns on White Fawn Circle and Blackhawk Ridge Way. Because there are no mandatory stops, plan to fuel up before you leave Northlakes so you can comfortably cover the $17 estimated fuel cost without needing to hunt for stations along the way. Keep in mind that the lack of highway travel means your speed will be lower than a typical interstate trip, so factor in the full 1 hour and 49 minutes of drive time when setting your schedule. Aim to depart during daylight hours to make navigating the turn-heavy sections of River Bend Drive much easier to manage.
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 52.8 miles from Northlakes, NC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 1h 9m 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 47m
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 Northlakes, 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 Northlakes, NC
This is one driving day of about 105.7 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Northlakes, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 92.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 105.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Gunpowder View Circle
Turn left onto Gunpowder View Circle
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~4m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
95.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
102.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward Freeman Mill Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 218B
Toward Freeman Mill Road
7
105.4 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.53 one way
$33.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.07
$36.15
premium
$4.70
$19.56
$39.13
diesel
$5.61
$23.34
$46.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.07
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.25
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.80
$6.76
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Northlakes, NC
Morning
in Northlakes on Tuesday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greensboro, NC
Morning
in Greensboro on Tuesday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Mocksville, NC
53 mi in
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
23 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
2h 11m 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?
Prepare for a hands-on driving experience, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local road profile rather than high-speed highway travel. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend the entire 106.5 miles navigating roads like White Fawn Circle, River Bend Drive, and Blackhawk Ridge Way. Unlike an interstate commute, this path requires your full attention as you transition through various local segments. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so expect the road to demand constant engagement behind the wheel. It is a technical drive that rewards those who enjoy the nuances of local navigation over simple cruise-control highway driving.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Freeman Mill Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Gunpowder View Circle.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 105.7 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 0.6 miles (Gunpowder View Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 95.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Northlakes, NC to Greensboro, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
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 2h 11m. Total distance: 105.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Gunpowder View Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 95.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greensboro, NC before heading back.
