Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17.7 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rutherfordton, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Hopewell, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Rutherfordton, NC to Hopewell, NC is 17.7 miles and takes about 29 minutes via East Main Street/Hollis Road/US 74A, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within North Carolina, making it a straightforward local excursion. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, so staying attentive to navigation is key. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as a segment of a larger journey, offering a simple transit between two points in the Southeast region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Main Street | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Hollis Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| US 74A | 4 mi | 6m |
| Oak Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Charlotte Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Broadway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rutherfordton, NC and Hopewell, NC.
Start on US 221
Turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A
Turn right onto US 74A; US 221 Truck
Turn left onto Oak Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 221A
At end of road, turn right onto US 74 Business
Turn left onto Hollis Road
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 7.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 74 Business; US 221A / Charlotte Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 74A; US 221 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 221A / South Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto US 74 Business / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.82 one way
$5.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.41 | $3.07 | $6.14 |
| premium | $4.78 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Rutherfordton on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 11:15PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Evening in Hopewell on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 11:15PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 drive presents itself as a turn-heavy local excursion, with a highway share of only 23%. You'll experience a mix of navigating local streets and brief stints on US 74A. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 5.9 miles along East Main Street. The road character shifts as you progress, transitioning from more urban or town-centric paths to potentially more open stretches depending on the specific segment of US 74A you use. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 74 Business; US 221A / Charlotte Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 74 Business; US 221A / Charlotte Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 74A; US 221 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (Oak Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
590 ft
Total Descent
506 ft
Highest Point
1,063 ft
~1.3 mi in
Elevation Range
255 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: chinese
Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Ellenboro, NC
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: mexican
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Forest City, NC
Cuisine: chinese
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Rutherfordton, NC
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Th 07:30-21:00; Fr 07:30-21:30; Sa-Su...
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Bostic, NC
Park
Early in the drive, right off the route
Attraction
Around the midpoint, short detour
Motel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Forest City, NC
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1787
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 17.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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