Traveling from Shallotte to Fayetteville covers 100.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 17 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. The route transitions from the coastal Southeast region toward the inland areas of North Carolina. It is a practical, efficient drive that keeps you moving toward your goal without unnecessary complexity. By planning for a single day of travel, you maintain full flexibility for your schedule in Fayetteville.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.1 miles from Shallotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
20.7 mi
23m
New Britton Highway East
17 mi
29m
Andrew Jackson Highway
16.9 mi
18m
Whiteville Road Northwest
13.5 mi
18m
American Indian Highway
10.7 mi
12m
I 95 Business
7.4 mi
8m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
3.3 mi
6m
Gillespie Street
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 20.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shallotte, NC and Fayetteville, 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
11 mi·12 min·American Indian Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
15
Turn right onto NC 41
3.3 mi·6 min·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
16
Continue on Apple Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Apple Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto West 5th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·West 5th Street
18
Turn left onto North Water Street
393 ft·7 sec·North Water Street
19
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
219 ft·3 sec·North Water Street
20
Continue on North Water Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Water Street
21
Turn straight onto Carthage Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Carthage Road
22
Turn right onto Capuano Street
152 ft·6 sec·Capuano Street
23
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
24
Merge onto I 95; US 301
21 mi·23 min·I 95; US 301
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit onto I 95 Business
5.0 mi·5 min·I 95 Business
Exit 40Toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army AirfieldUse the slight right lane.
26
Continue on I 95 Business; US 301
2.4 mi·2 min·I 95 Business; US 301
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on I 95 Business; US 301
323 ft·4 sec·South Eastern Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn slight left onto Gillespie Street
2.5 mi·3 min·Gillespie Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Enter roundabout onto Market Square
253 ft·4 sec·Market Square
30
Arrive at destination
Market Square
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 17-minute trip with no scheduled stops, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time based on your personal preference. To ensure a smooth experience, keep a close eye on your navigation while moving through the turn-heavy sections, as the shift between local roads and I-95 can be abrupt. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this 100.1-mile route, consider planning a quick break if you prefer to stretch your legs mid-way. Factor in your $16 fuel budget before heading out to avoid unnecessary errands once you arrive. Taking the drive during daylight hours is particularly helpful for navigating the many turns along the Andrew Jackson Highway.
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 50.1 miles from Shallotte, NC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.7 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 1h 14m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, 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 100.1 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Shallotte, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 20.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 90.2 — 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.
5
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 41: Lumberton, Fairmont
5
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|West 5th Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
68 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|North Water Street
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
90.2 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 95 Business
Take the exit onto I 95 Business toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield
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 40
Toward I 95 Business North: Fayetteville, Fort...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.65 one way
$31.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.12
$34.23
premium
$4.70
$18.53
$37.05
diesel
$5.61
$22.10
$44.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.51
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.76
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.01
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night
in Shallotte on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, NC
Late night
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Fairmont, NC
50 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
1 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
2h 17m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 28% of this journey takes place on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads like New Britton Highway East and Andrew Jackson Highway. While you will encounter a brief 20.7-mile stretch on I-95, the route is defined by its frequent turns rather than long, monotonous interstate cruising. The character of the road shifts significantly as you leave the coast, trading highway speeds for the nuances of regional roadways. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay alert through the various turns and transitions.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 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 100.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.8 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
166 ft15 ft
Total Climb
204 ft
Total Descent
117 ft
Highest Point
166 ft
~78.7 mi in
Elevation Range
151 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shallotte, NC and Fayetteville, NC, road signs point toward Fairmont, Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield.
Fayetteville is a city in Cumberland County, in the western part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain region. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg/Liberty/Bragg (the name of which changed thrice in as many years,) a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the prestigious All-America City Award from the National Civic League three times. According to the 2020 United States Census estimate, the city has a population of 208,501. It ranks as the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina.
With an estimated population of 529,252, the Fayetteville metropolitan area is the largest in southeastern North Carolina, and the fifth-largest in the state.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 100.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Fayetteville, 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. 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 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.8 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fayetteville, NC before heading back.
