How far is Gastonia, NC from Elizabeth City, NC?

The driving distance from Gastonia, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 347.7 miles (559.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 285.7 miles (459.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 29m 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
347.74 mi
06h 44m
Flight
285.71 mi
459.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gastonia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
285.71 mi
Kilometers
459.8 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
347.74 mi
Kilometers
559.63 km
Drive Time
06h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 12:09 PM EDT
Return by in Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 6:54 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gastonia
2026-04-19T05:24
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 12:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:45 PM to 2:15 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
10:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gastonia
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
Cary
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Gastonia
173.7 mi
03h 22m
To Elizabeth City
174 mi
03h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NW
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gastonia and Elizabeth City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gastonia and Elizabeth City.

  1. 1

    Start on West Franklin Boulevard

    2639 ft · 57 sec · West Franklin Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Broad Street

    1311 ft · 37 sec · South Broad Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Long Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Long Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on East Ozark Avenue

    2177 ft · 45 sec · East Ozark Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 85 North

    1435 ft · 35 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

    59.4 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest

    2664 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    80 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    40 mi · 50 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 23 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Providence Road

    783 ft · 34 sec · Providence Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gastonia and Elizabeth City.

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
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
159 mi · 46%
Cameron Morrison Bridge
59.4 mi · 17%
US 29
42.7 mi · 12%
I 85 North
33.1 mi · 10%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 9%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight left

80 mi · 01h 27m

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 44m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+62 mi
285.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cary
03h 22m from Gastonia
Leave By
10:30 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Gastonia and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gastonia to Elizabeth City?

The road trip is about 347.7 miles (559.6 km) and usually takes 06h 44m 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?

Cary is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.7 miles from Gastonia and 174 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 285.7 miles (459.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 62 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 $48.60 one way or $97.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Gastonia and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Stop Ideas Near Cary

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Cary and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham
Food stop 11.5 mi away

Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham

Durham , NC
7830 NC-751, Durham, NC 27713
Rating 4.5/5 1,265 reviews Hamburger restaurant,Bar,Bar & grill,Takeout Restaurant,Sandwich shop,Sports bar
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 12.4 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Practical stop 3.4 mi away

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall

Morrisville , NC
101 Morrisville Square Way Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
Rating 4.7/5 26 reviews Learning center,After school program,Tutoring service
Town of Cary
Meeting point 3.2 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Cary

211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

7 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

12 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Durham

26 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gastonia and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 285.71 mi (459.8 km).

Gastonia

#1 Gastonia

The most populous city in Gaston County, North Carolina.

Population77,640
Coordinates35.2620800, -81.1873000
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth City

#2 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,988
Coordinates36.2946000, -76.2510500
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Gastonia (-81.1873, 35.26208)
End: Elizabeth City (-76.25105, 36.2946)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 560 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.27 gal
46.45 L · about $48.60
Round trip
$97.20
24.54 gal · 92.9 L
Estimated CO2
109 kg one way
Round trip: 218.1 kg / 481 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $48.60 $97.20
Mid-grade $4.43 $54.34 $108.69
Premium $4.78 $58.63 $117.25
Diesel $5.62 $69.01 $138.01

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 Gastonia and Elizabeth City. The current time is 05:24:37.

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.