How far is Jacksonville, NC from Forest City, NC?
The driving distance from Jacksonville, NC to Forest City, NC is about 303.9 miles (489 km), with a travel time of about 06h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 254 miles (408.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 28m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in and county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Jacksonville and Forest City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville and Forest City.
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1
Start on Marine Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Marine Boulevard
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2
Keep slight right to continue on Richlands Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Richlands Highway
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3
Continue on Burgaw Highway
30.6 mi · 43 min · Burgaw Highway
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4
Turn straight onto East Bridges Street
1308 ft · 37 sec · East Bridges Street
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5
Turn left onto North Walker Street
540 ft · 17 sec · North Walker Street
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6
Turn right onto East Wilmington Street
3.2 mi · 5 min · East Wilmington Street
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7
Turn left onto Malpass Corner Road
8.2 mi · 11 min · Malpass Corner Road
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8
Continue on Borough Road
8.7 mi · 13 min · Borough Road
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9
Turn left
10.3 mi · 14 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
42 mi · 49 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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11
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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12
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20.2 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11.6 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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15
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street
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16
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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17
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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19
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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20
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard
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21
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
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23
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard
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24
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway
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25
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
1.1 km · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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26
Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway
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27
Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive
2.5 mi · 4 min
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28
Take the ramp slight left
1678 ft · 41 sec
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29
Merge slight left
24.1 mi · 30 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
3242 ft · 50 sec
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31
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
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32
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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33
Continue on East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard
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34
Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard
12.2 mi · 14 min · West Dixon Boulevard
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35
Take the exit slight right toward US 221 ALT: Forest City
895 ft · 34 sec
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36
Turn left onto South Broadway Street
1.2 mi · 3 min · South Broadway Street
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37
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Main Street
989 ft · 46 sec · East Main Street
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38
Turn right onto Cherry Mountain Street
17 m · 2 sec · Cherry Mountain Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Cherry Mountain Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Jacksonville and Forest City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Andrew Jackson Highway
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
42 mi · 00h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Jacksonville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Forest City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Jacksonville to Forest City?
The road trip is about 303.9 miles (489 km) and usually takes 06h 28m 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?
Laurinburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.8 miles from Jacksonville and 152.1 miles from Forest City.
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 49.9 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 $42.46 one way or $84.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Jacksonville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Forest City.
Stop Ideas Near Laurinburg
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 Laurinburg.
Hamlet
Dillon
Southern Pines
Fayetteville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Jacksonville and Forest City. Straight-line distance: 254.03 mi (408.82 km).
#1 Jacksonville
The most populous city in Onslow County, North Carolina.
| Population | 76,284 |
| Coordinates | 34.7540500, -77.4302400 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Forest City
Town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States
| Population | 7,138 |
| Coordinates | 35.3340100, -81.8651000 |
| Altitude | 309 |
| Country | United States |
End: Forest City (-81.8651, 35.33401)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 489 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 35m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 03m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 47m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $42.46 | $84.92 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $47.48 | $94.96 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $51.22 | $102.44 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $60.29 | $120.58 |
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.