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

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is about 104.1 miles (167.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83.6 miles (134.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 00m 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
104.07 mi
02h 30m
Flight
83.62 mi
134.57 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
83.62 mi
Kilometers
134.57 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
104.07 mi
Kilometers
167.48 km
Drive Time
02h 30m

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 02h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sunset Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 6:03 AM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Sat, Apr 18, 8:34 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-04-18T03:33
Arrive Sunset Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 6:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
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
Boardman
NC

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

From Fayetteville
52.1 mi
01h 15m
To Sunset Beach
52 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
95°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    50 m · 4 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Gillespie Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Gillespie Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto South Eastern Boulevard

    147 m · 9 sec · South Eastern Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Gillespie Street

    2879 ft · 39 sec · Gillespie Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight right

    27.5 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Carthage Road

    1184 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Turn sharp left onto West Carthage Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West Carthage Road

  8. 8

    Continue on North Water Street

    1090 ft · 23 sec · North Water Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Water Street

    15 m · 1 sec · North Water Street

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto North Water Street

    129 m · 11 sec · North Water Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    948 ft · 28 sec · West 5th Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Apple Street

    546 ft · 15 sec · Apple Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Drive

    3.5 mi · 7 min · Martin Luther King Jr Drive

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left

    1764 ft · 43 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto American Indian Highway

    10.6 mi · 12 min · American Indian Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    17 mi · 18 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1539 ft · 37 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Powell Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Powell Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on Jk Powell Boulevard

    815 ft · 15 sec · Jk Powell Boulevard

  20. 20

    Continue on Powell Boulevard

    2595 ft · 51 sec · Powell Boulevard

  21. 21

    Continue on South J K Powell Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South J K Powell Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West Love Mill Road

    1494 ft · 34 sec · West Love Mill Road

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Vinson Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Vinson Boulevard

  24. 24

    Continue on New Britton Highway East

    17 mi · 30 min · New Britton Highway East

  25. 25

    Continue on Whiteville Road Northwest

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Whiteville Road Northwest

  26. 26

    Turn slight right onto Longwood Road Northwest

    8.9 mi · 18 min · Longwood Road Northwest

  27. 27

    Continue on Seaside Road Southwest

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Seaside Road Southwest

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Sunset Boulevard North

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Sunset Boulevard North

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Sunset Boulevard South

    9 m · 1 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South

    1901 ft · 46 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
2 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Gillespie Street
30.5 mi · 29%
Andrew Jackson Highway
17.3 mi · 17%
New Britton Highway East
17 mi · 16%
American Indian Highway
10.6 mi · 10%
Longwood Road Northwest
8.94 mi · 9%
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
3.79 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Gillespie Street

Keep slight right

27.5 mi · 00h 32m

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
02h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.5 mi
83.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Boardman
01h 15m from Fayetteville
Leave By
1:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fayetteville and Mostly Sunny near Sunset Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 104.1 miles (167.5 km) and usually takes 02h 30m 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?

Boardman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.1 miles from Fayetteville and 52 miles from Sunset Beach.

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

The direct path is about 83.6 miles (134.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.5 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 1:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.54 one way or $29.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Boardman

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

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

RAIL

Dillon

39 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Fayetteville

69 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Florence

79 mi away
805 East Day Street
RAIL

Hamlet

84 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Sunset Beach. Straight-line distance: 83.62 mi (134.57 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
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: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Sunset Beach (-78.51223, 33.88073)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 167 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.67 gal
13.9 L · about $14.54
Round trip
$29.07
7.34 gal · 27.8 L
Estimated CO2
32.6 kg one way
Round trip: 65.2 kg / 144 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.54 $29.07
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.25 $32.51
Premium $4.78 $17.54 $35.07
Diesel $5.62 $20.64 $41.28

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 Fayetteville and Sunset Beach. The current time is 03:33:37.

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.