How far is Carolina Beach, NC from Fayetteville, NC?

The driving distance from Carolina Beach, NC to Fayetteville, NC is about 103 miles (165.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.9 miles (144.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
103.02 mi
01h 57m
Flight
89.91 mi
144.69 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carolina Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
89.91 mi
Kilometers
144.69 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.02 mi
Kilometers
165.79 km
Drive Time
01h 57m

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 01h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fayetteville
Sun, Apr 19, 1:08 PM EDT
Return by in Carolina Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 3:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carolina Beach
2026-04-19T11:10
Arrive Fayetteville
Sun, Apr 19, 1:08 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:58 AM to 11:58 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carolina Beach
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Kelly
NC

Township in Bladen County, North Carolina

From Carolina Beach
51.4 mi
00h 58m
To Fayetteville
51.6 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carolina Beach and Fayetteville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carolina Beach and Fayetteville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    14 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Lake Park Boulevard

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Lake Park Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on Carolina Beach Road

    6.1 mi · 9 min · Carolina Beach Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Carolina Beach Road

    5.8 mi · 11 min · Carolina Beach Road

  5. 5

    Continue on South Front Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Front Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    843 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

    3034 ft · 58 sec · Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

  8. 8

    Continue on Ocean Highway East

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Ocean Highway East

  9. 9

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    13.6 mi · 18 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    70.3 mi · 1 hr 35 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    1012 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Gillespie Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Gillespie Street

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout toward Market Square

    77 m · 4 sec · Market Square

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carolina Beach and Fayetteville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Jackson Highway
84.1 mi · 82%
Carolina Beach Road
11.9 mi · 12%
Ocean Highway East
2.81 mi · 3%
North Lake Park Boulevard
1.33 mi · 1%
South Front Street
1.14 mi · 1%
Gillespie Street
0.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Jackson Highway

Take the exit slight right

70.3 mi · 01h 35m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.1 mi
89.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kelly
00h 58m from Carolina Beach
Leave By
2:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Carolina Beach and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fayetteville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carolina Beach to Fayetteville?

The road trip is about 103 miles (165.8 km) and usually takes 01h 57m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kelly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.4 miles from Carolina Beach and 51.6 miles from Fayetteville.

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

The direct path is about 89.9 miles (144.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.42 one way or $28.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Carolina Beach and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fayetteville.

Stop Ideas Near Kelly

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kelly, 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 Kelly.

BUS

Wilmington, NC

48 mi away
505 Cando St
RAIL

Fayetteville

83 mi away
472 Hay Street
BUS

Jacksonville, NC

89 mi away
850 New Bridge Street
RAIL

Dillon

96 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carolina Beach and Fayetteville. Straight-line distance: 89.91 mi (144.69 km).

Carolina Beach

#1 Carolina Beach

Town of the United States

Population6,369
Coordinates34.0351700, -77.8936000
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Fayetteville

#2 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Start: North Lake Park Boulevard (-77.893751, 34.03517)
End: Market Square (-78.878408, 35.052733)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 166 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.64 gal
13.76 L · about $14.42
Round trip
$28.84
7.28 gal · 27.52 L
Estimated CO2
32.3 kg one way
Round trip: 64.7 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.42 $28.84
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.12 $32.24
Premium $4.78 $17.39 $34.78
Diesel $5.62 $20.47 $40.94

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Carolina Beach and Fayetteville. The current time is 11:10:46.

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.