How far is Forest City, NC from Jacksonville, NC?
The driving distance from Forest City, NC to Jacksonville, NC is about 318.4 miles (512.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 254 miles (408.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 19m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in North Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Forest City and Jacksonville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City and Jacksonville.
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1
Start on Cherry Mountain Street
17 m · 4 sec · Cherry Mountain Street
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2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1058 ft · 54 sec · East Main Street
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3
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · South Broadway Street
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4
Take the ramp right
907 ft · 22 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Solon David Smart Memorial Highway
11.7 mi · 14 min · Solon David Smart Memorial Highway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard
12.4 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard
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7
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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8
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
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9
Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
572 ft · 8 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
1.3 km · 56 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
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12
Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge
8.5 mi · 10 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge
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13
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte
1104 ft · 27 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium
118 m · 11 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard
1677 ft · 22 sec · Brookshire Boulevard
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16
Continue on Brookshire Freeway
3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard
2261 ft · 55 sec
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18
Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway
3.3 mi · 4 min · East Independence Expressway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard
109 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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20
Continue on East Independence Expressway
2.1 mi · 2 min · East Independence Expressway
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21
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2.4 mi · 4 min · East Independence Boulevard
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22
Continue on Independence Boulevard
4.5 mi · 6 min · Independence Boulevard
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi · 22 min · Monroe Expressway
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24
Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway
1804 ft · 28 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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25
Continue on West Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi · 5 min · West Marshville Boulevard
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26
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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27
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.1 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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29
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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30
Continue on West Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street
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31
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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33
Continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi · 16 min · G R Kindley Freeway
-
34
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
9.7 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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36
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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37
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
42.1 mi · 49 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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38
Take the exit left toward General Howe Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · General Howe Road
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39
Continue on General Howell Road
1320 ft · 21 sec · General Howell Road
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40
Continue on Gen Howe Road
7.9 mi · 11 min · Gen Howe Road
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41
Turn right
8.7 mi · 13 min
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42
Continue on Malpass Corner Road
8.2 mi · 11 min · Malpass Corner Road
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43
At the end of the road, turn right
3.2 mi · 6 min
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44
Turn left onto North Walker Street
540 ft · 15 sec · North Walker Street
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45
Turn right onto East Bridges Street
1039 ft · 25 sec · East Bridges Street
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46
Turn straight onto Jacksonville Highway
30.6 mi · 43 min · Jacksonville Highway
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47
Continue straight
132 m · 8 sec
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48
Turn slight right onto Richlands Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Richlands Highway
-
49
Continue on South Marine Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Marine Boulevard
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50
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Marine Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Forest City and Jacksonville.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
42.1 mi · 00h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Forest City and Mostly Sunny near Jacksonville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Forest City to Jacksonville?
The road trip is about 318.4 miles (512.4 km) and usually takes 05h 19m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Gibson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.1 miles from Forest City and 166.3 miles from Jacksonville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 254 miles (408.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.4 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:20 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.52 one way or $89.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Forest City and Mostly Sunny near Jacksonville.
Stop Ideas Near Gibson
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gibson.
Hamlet
Dillon
Southern Pines
Florence
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Forest City and Jacksonville. Straight-line distance: 254.03 mi (408.82 km).
#1 Forest City
Town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States
| Population | 7,138 |
| Coordinates | 35.3340100, -81.8651000 |
| Altitude | 309 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Jacksonville
The most populous city in Onslow County, North Carolina.
| Population | 76,284 |
| Coordinates | 34.7540500, -77.4302400 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Marine Boulevard (-77.43026, 34.754117)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 512 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 36m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 57m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 58m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $44.52 | $89.04 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $49.78 | $99.56 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $53.70 | $107.41 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $63.21 | $126.43 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.