How far is High Point, NC from Kinston, NC?

The driving distance from High Point, NC to Kinston, NC is about 165.8 miles (266.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.3 miles (232.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
165.75 mi
03h 22m
Flight
144.31 mi
232.25 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from High Point.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
144.31 mi
Kilometers
232.25 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
165.75 mi
Kilometers
266.75 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

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 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kinston
Mon, May 25, 5:15 PM EDT
Return by in High Point
Mon, May 25, 8:38 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave High Point
2026-05-25T13:52
Arrive Kinston
Mon, May 25, 5:15 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:23 AM to 11:23 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:14 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in High Point
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Holly Springs
NC

City in and county seat of Marshall County, Mississippi, United States

From High Point
82.8 mi
01h 41m
To Kinston
83 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Memorial Day

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between High Point and Kinston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between High Point and Kinston.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp left

    1438 ft · 35 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    8.5 mi · 9 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    5.7 mi · 6 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Sanford

    1133 ft · 28 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford

    26.3 mi · 32 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro

    1413 ft · 42 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left

    10.9 mi · 15 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    21 mi · 27 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 540 Toll South

    2827 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Triangle Expressway

    22 mi · 24 min · Triangle Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 42 East: Smithfield

    2526 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

    8.7 mi · 9 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    7.6 mi · 10 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    14.3 mi · 19 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Goldsboro Bypass

    19.8 mi · 21 min · Goldsboro Bypass

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    11.5 mi · 13 min

  20. 20

    Continue on West Vernon Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · West Vernon Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Queen Street

    1807 ft · 41 sec · North Queen Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West Blount Street

    80 m · 17 sec · West Blount Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Walls Street

    96 m · 19 sec · Walls Street

  24. 24

    Turn left

    31 m · 8 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between High Point and Kinston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
32.7 mi · 20%
Goldsboro Bypass
31.3 mi · 19%
US 421 South
26.3 mi · 16%
Triangle Expressway
22.3 mi · 13%
US 64
21.3 mi · 13%
South Main Street
16.3 mi · 10%
Longest Stretch

US 421 South

Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford

26.3 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
144.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Holly Springs
01h 41m from High Point
Leave By
10:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving High Point and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Kinston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from High Point to Kinston?

The road trip is about 165.8 miles (266.8 km) and usually takes 03h 22m 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?

Holly Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.8 miles from High Point and 83 miles from Kinston.

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

The direct path is about 144.3 miles (232.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.17 one way or $46.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around High Point and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Kinston.

Stop Ideas Near Holly Springs

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 Holly Springs and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 1 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 10.9 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 10.2 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 8.2 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 Holly Springs.

RAIL

Cary

16 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

20 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

22 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Durham

39 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between High Point and Kinston. Straight-line distance: 144.31 mi (232.25 km).

High Point

#1 High Point

The second most populous city in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Population113,565
Coordinates35.9556900, -80.0053200
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Kinston

#2 Kinston

City in North Carolina, United States of America

Population19,849
Coordinates35.2626600, -77.5816400
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: High Point (-80.00532, 35.95569)
End: Kinston (-77.58164, 35.26266)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 267 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.85 gal
22.14 L · about $23.17
Round trip
$46.34
11.7 gal · 44.28 L
Estimated CO2
52 kg one way
Round trip: 104 kg / 229 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.17 $46.34
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.91 $51.82
Premium $4.78 $27.95 $55.90
Diesel $5.62 $32.90 $65.80

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 · May 25, 2026

There is no time difference between High Point and Kinston. The current time is 13:52:36.

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.