Transitioning from the coast to the heart of the Piedmont, this 213.6-mile journey connects Wrightsville Beach to High Point in approximately 4 hours and 11 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Michael Jordan Highway, US 64, and the Isaac Brooks Highway. Because the total duration is manageable, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion. Budget roughly $34 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast North Carolina destinations. Since you are moving from the coast inland, the drive offers a straightforward transition that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stay, keeping your travel plans flexible and efficient.
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
106.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
US 64
32 mi
42m
Isaac Brooks Highway
25.5 mi
30m
Triangle Expressway
19.5 mi
20m
US 29
7.1 mi
7m
Greensboro Urban Loop
4.8 mi
5m
Eastwood Road
3.5 mi
6m
I 85
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wrightsville Beach, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on US 76
1.1 mi·2 min·Causeway Drive
2
Continue on US 74; US 76
0.2 mi·30 sec·Wrightsville Avenue
3
Continue on US 74; US 76
3.5 mi·6 min·Eastwood Road
4
Continue on US 74
0.7 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
5
Turn right onto US 117; NC 132
1.1 mi·1 min·North College Road
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·Michael Jordan Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·23 sec
Toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Cleveland Rd
9
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.6 mi·2 min·Cleveland Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 1010
1.1 mi·1 min·Cleveland School Road
11
Turn right onto NC 50
0.5 mi·56 sec·Benson Road
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward NC 540 Toll West: ApexUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
19 mi·20 min·Triangle Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 59A-BToward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 59BToward US 64 West: PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 64
32 mi·42 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
19
Merge onto US 421
26 mi·30 min·Isaac Brooks Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto US 421
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 421
Exit 197Toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421
0.8 mi·1 min·US 421
Toward I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 85; US 421
4.8 mi·5 min·Greensboro Urban Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
2.4 mi·2 min·I 85
Toward I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
7.1 mi·7 min·US 29
Toward US 29 SouthUse the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward South Main Street, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, planning for at least one dedicated stop will help break up the drive and keep you refreshed behind the wheel. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid potential congestion, especially when moving between regional hubs. You have plenty of flexibility with a 4-hour drive, but keeping a close eye on your fuel gauge is a good practice given the $34 estimated cost. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major interstates, prioritize checking your navigation frequently to stay on the correct path along the Michael Jordan and Isaac Brooks Highways. Using your single planned stop to stretch your legs will make the winding, technical sections of the drive much more manageable.
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 106.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.8 miles or 1h 59m 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 24m
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 Wrightsville Beach, 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 Wrightsville Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 213.6 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Wrightsville Beach, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 107.3 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 138.2 and 211.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
138.2 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59B
Toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
8
196.4 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
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 197
Toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durha...
8
196.6 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem,...
7
204.6 mi into trip|~4h 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
211.7 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
$33.40 one way
$66.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$36.52
$73.04
premium
$4.70
$39.53
$79.07
diesel
$5.61
$47.16
$94.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
Efficient EV
53.4
0
$18.69
$8.54
EV Truck/SUV
85.4
1
$29.90
$13.67
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Night
in Wrightsville Beach on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
High Point, NC
Night
in High Point on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 11m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 22.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving conditions as you make your way across the state, with the route characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. Only about 29% of your time will be spent on major highways, meaning you should prepare for more varied road types than a standard interstate cruise. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 107.3 miles on the Michael Jordan Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition away from the coast, the feel of the road shifts from open stretches to more technical segments. Staying alert is key, as the winding nature of the local roads requires more active steering than a straight-line highway trek.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 138.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 213.6 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 138.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.4 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.6 miles (US 421): 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.
Between Wrightsville Beach, NC and High Point, NC, road signs point toward Pittsboro, Durham and Charlotte.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 213.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan 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 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 138.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.4 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.6 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at High Point, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
