How far is Elk Park, NC from Mount Gilead, NC?

The driving distance from Elk Park, NC to Mount Gilead, NC is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.6 miles (13.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
14.85 mi
00h 36m
Flight
8.57 mi
13.8 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elk Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.57 mi
Kilometers
13.8 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.85 mi
Kilometers
23.9 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 00h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mount Gilead
Sat, Apr 18, 3:04 AM EDT
Return by in Elk Park
Sat, Apr 18, 3:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk Park
2026-04-18T02:28
Arrive Mount Gilead
Sat, Apr 18, 3:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Elk Park
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Beech Mountain
NC

Human settlement in Avery County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Elk Park
8.6 mi
00h 18m
To Mount Gilead
6.3 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
78°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elk Park and Mount Gilead.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk Park and Mount Gilead.

  1. 1

    Start on North US Highway 19E

    2927 ft · 1 min · North US Highway 19E

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Banner Elk Highway

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Banner Elk Highway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Beech Mountain Road

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Beech Mountain Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Flat Springs Road

    2817 ft · 46 sec · Flat Springs Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Russ Norris Road

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Russ Norris Road

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Buckeye Road

    3243 ft · 54 sec · Buckeye Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Flat Springs Road

    1.1 mi · 4 min · Flat Springs Road

  9. 9

    Turn left

    23 m · 6 sec

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elk Park and Mount Gilead.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
10 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
67.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Beech Mountain Road
7.86 mi · 53%
Russ Norris Road
2.44 mi · 16%
Banner Elk Highway
2.13 mi · 14%
Flat Springs Road
1.59 mi · 11%
Buckeye Road
0.61 mi · 4%
North US Highway 19E
0.55 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Beech Mountain Road

Turn left onto Beech Mountain Road

7.86 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.3 mi
8.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Beech Mountain
00h 18m from Elk Park
Leave By
7:18 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Elk Park and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Mount Gilead.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elk Park to Mount Gilead?

The road trip is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Beech Mountain is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.6 miles from Elk Park and 6.3 miles from Mount Gilead.

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

The direct path is about 8.6 miles (13.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.06 one way or $4.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Elk Park and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Mount Gilead.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk Park and Mount Gilead. Straight-line distance: 8.57 mi (13.8 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Elk Park

Township in Avery County, North Carolina

Population450
Coordinates36.1573500, -81.9781700
Altitude962
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Mount Gilead

Town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States

Population1,141
Coordinates36.2681800, -81.9090000
Altitude945
CountryUnited States
Start: North US 19E Highway (-81.978266, 36.157073)
End: Flat Springs Road (-81.90922, 36.268056)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.98 L · about $2.06
Round trip
$4.12
1.04 gal · 3.96 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $2.06 $4.12
Mid-grade $4.43 $2.30 $4.61
Premium $4.78 $2.48 $4.97
Diesel $5.62 $2.92 $5.85

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk Park and Mount Gilead. The current time is 02:28:38.

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.