Traveling from the coastal town of Shallotte to the inland hub of Concord covers 185.6 miles of North Carolina terrain. You can expect the journey to take approximately 4 hours and 4 minutes, making this a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes the Andrew Jackson Highway, the American Indian Highway, and NC 742 to navigate between these two Southeast locations. With fuel costs estimated at around $30, this drive offers a cost-effective way to transition from the coast to the Piedmont region. Since it is a straightforward trip, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preferences. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route provides a consistent path across the state.
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
92.8 miles from Shallotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
48.7 mi
56m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 742
24.9 mi
35m
New Britton Highway East
17 mi
29m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
Whiteville Road Northwest
13.5 mi
18m
US 601
9.6 mi
10m
NC 24
8.7 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 48.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shallotte, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Mulberry Street
75 ft·5 sec·Mulberry Street
2
Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 130
0.4 mi·54 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto NC 130
14 mi·18 min·Whiteville Road Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on NC 130
17 mi·29 min·New Britton Highway East
5
Continue on NC 130
1.5 mi·2 min·Vinson Boulevard
6
Continue on NC 130
0.2 mi·28 sec·East Love Mill Road
7
Turn right onto US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·South J K Powell Boulevard
8
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.5 mi·51 sec·South Powell Boulevard
9
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.2 mi·17 sec·Jk Powell Boulevard
10
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·Powell Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
12
Merge onto US 74; US 76
17 mi·18 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
13
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
14
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
19
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·24 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
20
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 52; NC 742
21
Continue on NC 742
25 mi·35 min·NC 742
22
Continue on NC 205
1.7 mi·3 min·NC 205
23
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
8.7 mi·13 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto US 601
9.6 mi·10 min·US 601
25
Take the exit onto Union Street South
0.6 mi·58 sec·Union Street South
26
Continue on NC 3
2.3 mi·3 min·Branchview Drive Southeast
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn left onto NC 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
29
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
30
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Planning for this 4-hour drive is simple, but keeping a few logistics in mind will make your trip smoother. Since the route includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refresh before completing the final leg of your journey. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach the Concord area. Make sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches where services might be more spread out. Given the mix of highway and local roads, prioritize steady pacing rather than trying to rush the drive, as this allows you to handle the varying road conditions safely.
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 92.8 miles from Shallotte, NC, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 41 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.8 miles or 2h 1m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shallotte, 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 Shallotte, NC
This is one driving day of about 185.6 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Shallotte, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 48.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 185.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|NC 130 / Whiteville Road Northwest
Turn right onto NC 130 / Whiteville Road Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
107.2 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
5
184.7 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
185.5 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.02 one way
$58.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$31.73
$63.47
premium
$4.70
$34.35
$68.70
diesel
$5.61
$40.98
$81.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Efficient EV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
EV Truck/SUV
74.2
0
$25.98
$11.88
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Shallotte, NC
Night
in Shallotte on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Night
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
93 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
2 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
4h 4m 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 trip features a mixed drive profile that keeps you moving through diverse landscapes. Only 32% of your journey is spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads and secondary routes. You will face your longest uninterrupted segment during a 48.7-mile stretch on the Andrew Jackson Highway, which serves as the backbone of your travel. Expect the road's character to shift as you transition from the coastal plains toward the more developed surroundings of Concord. Because the route relies on a blend of highway and local infrastructure, you should stay alert to changing speed limits and traffic patterns throughout the 185.6-mile trek.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NC 130 / Whiteville Road Northwest.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 185.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 130 / Whiteville Road Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 107.2 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
684 ft15 ft
Total Climb
797 ft
Total Descent
129 ft
Highest Point
684 ft
~185.6 mi in
Elevation Range
669 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 185.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. 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 Concord, 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 0.4 miles (NC 130 / Whiteville Road Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 107.2 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
