River Bend, NC to High Point, NC is 208.5 miles and takes about 4h 5m via I 40, US 17, and US 70, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. It's a pretty straightforward drive, mostly on main arteries, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct way to get between these two points without much fuss. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of time to get on the road and still arrive at your destination with daylight to spare.
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
104.3 miles from River Bend, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
89.8 mi
1h 44m
US 17
32.2 mi
36m
US 70
23.2 mi
29m
Goldsboro Bypass
20.2 mi
21m
US 29
12.5 mi
13m
US 70 BYP
10.1 mi
12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
10 mi
11m
West New Bern Road
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 89.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,646 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~369 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Bend, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on Shoreline Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
2
Turn left onto US 17 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·US Highway 17 South
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 17 North: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 17
5.3 mi·6 min·US 17
6
Merge onto US 17; US 70
27 mi·29 min·US 17; US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 70; US 258
1.1 mi·1 min·West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258
2.1 mi·3 min·West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 70; US 258
1.6 mi·2 min·West Vernon Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 70
9.6 mi·11 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 42
20 mi·21 min·Goldsboro Bypass
12
Continue on US 70
1.2 mi·1 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 70
10 mi·14 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
10 mi·12 min·US 70 BYP
16
Continue on I 42
10.0 mi·11 min·Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
17
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi·5 min·US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: CharlotteUse the left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
7.1 mi·7 min·US 29
Toward US 29 SouthUse the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward South Main Street, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight upon arrival. There's only one recommended stop, so consider making it about halfway through your drive to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. The fuel cost is estimated at $32, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; if you hit traffic or decide to take a brief detour, you should still have ample time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches on I 40.
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 104.3 miles from River Bend, NC, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.8 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving River Bend, 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 River Bend, NC
This is one driving day of about 208.5 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from River Bend, 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 89.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 206.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17 North: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17 North: Washington
6
37.2 mi into trip|~44m in|US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
194.1 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
7
199.5 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 South
7
206.6 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South Main Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.78 one way
$61.56 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.83
$67.66
premium
$4.49
$36.87
$73.75
diesel
$4.80
$39.37
$78.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
River Bend, NC
Evening
in River Bend on Saturday
Local time
8:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
High Point, NC
Evening
in High Point on Saturday
Local time
8:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Clear
SW 1 mph0% chanceLive 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
16 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
4h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 82% of the drive on major roads like I 40. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on I 40, covering 89.8 miles. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the trip, offering a change of pace from the faster highway cruising. Expect a good number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate through various sections of the state.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 208.5 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.
Top landmarks
•Highland Cotton Mills Village Historic District — historic district in High Point, North Carolina
•Pickett Cotton Mills — historic industrial property at 1200 Redding Drive in southwestern High Point, N...
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 208.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.8 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 High Point, 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at High Point, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
