How far is Asheville, NC from Sunset Beach, NC?

The driving distance from Asheville, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is about 325.7 miles (524.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 258.4 miles (415.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
325.67 mi
06h 28m
Flight
258.4 mi
415.85 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Asheville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
258.4 mi
Kilometers
415.85 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
325.67 mi
Kilometers
524.11 km
Drive Time
06h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 06h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sunset Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 7:51 AM EDT
Return by in Asheville
Thu, Apr 23, 2:20 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Asheville
2026-04-23T01:23
Arrive Sunset Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 7:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:28 PM to 1:58 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Asheville
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Jaars
NC

Township in Union County, North Carolina

From Asheville
162.7 mi
03h 14m
To Sunset Beach
162.9 mi
03h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NNW
Destination
Sunset Beach Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
84°F
Thursday
Using Leland as the closest live forecast in the Brunswick County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Asheville and Sunset Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Asheville and Sunset Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    14 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Marcellus Street

    40 m · 8 sec · Marcellus Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn straight

    93 m · 11 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    967 ft · 26 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    26.2 mi · 32 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    124.3 mi · 2 hr 17 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Florence

    1687 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    79.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Palmetto Street

    22.6 mi · 33 min · West Palmetto Street

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    21 mi · 24 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach

    1.5 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Veterans Highway

    26.3 mi · 30 min · Veterans Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 31 North: Little River, Wilmington

    1468 ft · 36 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Carolina Bays Parkway

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Carolina Bays Parkway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Robert Edge Pkwy: North Myrtle Beach

    1548 ft · 40 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Robert Edge Parkway

    1 km · 1 min · Robert Edge Parkway

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Highway 90

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Highway 90

  21. 21

    Turn right onto US Highway 17

    3.1 mi · 6 min · US Highway 17

  22. 22

    Turn slight right

    1.3 km · 1 min

  23. 23

    Continue on Beach Drive Southwest

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Beach Drive Southwest

  24. 24

    Continue on Beach Drive Southwest

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Beach Drive Southwest

  25. 25

    Continue on Shoreline Drive West

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Shoreline Drive West

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Sunset Boulevard North

    586 ft · 16 sec · Sunset Boulevard North

  27. 27

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Sunset Boulevard South

    70 m · 5 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

  28. 28

    Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South

    1901 ft · 46 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Asheville and Sunset Beach.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
124 mi · 38%
I 20 East
79.8 mi · 24%
West Palmetto Street
46.7 mi · 14%
Billy Graham Freeway
27.5 mi · 8%
Veterans Highway
26.3 mi · 8%
Carolina Bays Parkway
5.06 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

124 mi · 02h 17m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 28m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.3 mi
258.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Jaars
03h 14m from Asheville
Leave By
11:04 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Asheville and Sunny near Sunset Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Asheville to Sunset Beach?

The road trip is about 325.7 miles (524.1 km) and usually takes 06h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Jaars is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.7 miles from Asheville and 162.9 miles from Sunset Beach.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 258.4 miles (415.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.51 one way or $91.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Asheville and Sunny near Sunset Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Jaars

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Jaars, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Jaars.

RAIL

Charlotte

43 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Gastonia

59 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Camden

69 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Kannapolis

72 mi away
201 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Asheville and Sunset Beach. Straight-line distance: 258.4 mi (415.85 km).

Asheville

#1 Asheville

The most populous city in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Population92,852
Coordinates35.6009500, -82.5540200
Altitude649
CountryUnited States
Sunset Beach

#2 Sunset Beach

City in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population4,172
Coordinates33.8807300, -78.5122300
Altitude0
CountryUnited States
Start: Asheville (-82.55402, 35.60095)
End: Sunset Beach (-78.51223, 33.88073)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 524 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.49 gal
43.5 L · about $45.51
Round trip
$91.02
22.98 gal · 87 L
Estimated CO2
102.1 kg one way
Round trip: 204.2 kg / 450 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $45.51 $91.02
Mid-grade $4.43 $50.89 $101.78
Premium $4.78 $54.90 $109.80
Diesel $5.62 $64.62 $129.24

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Asheville and Sunset Beach. The current time is 01:23:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.