How far is Jacksonville, NC from Morehead City, NC?

The driving distance from Jacksonville, NC to Morehead City, NC is about 42.9 miles (69 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40 miles (64.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 11m 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
42.91 mi
01h 05m
Flight
40.04 mi
64.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jacksonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.04 mi
Kilometers
64.44 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
42.91 mi
Kilometers
69.05 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

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 01h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Morehead City
Thu, Apr 16, 7:54 AM EDT
Return by in Jacksonville
Thu, Apr 16, 9:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jacksonville
2026-04-16T06:48
Arrive Morehead City
Thu, Apr 16, 7:54 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jacksonville
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
Cedar Point
NC

Town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States

From Jacksonville
21.4 mi
00h 32m
To Morehead City
21.5 mi
00h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jacksonville and Morehead City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville and Morehead City.

  1. 1

    Start on Marine Boulevard

    1115 ft · 19 sec · Marine Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn straight

    151 m · 18 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Johnson Boulevard

    2807 ft · 51 sec · Johnson Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Lejeune Boulevard

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Lejeune Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Freedom Way

    9.3 mi · 12 min · Freedom Way

  6. 6

    Continue on West Corbett Avenue

    3.2 mi · 7 min · West Corbett Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Cedar Point Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Cedar Point Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on WB McLean Drive

    16.2 mi · 24 min · WB McLean Drive

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Arendell Street

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Arendell Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North 18th Street

    57 m · 8 sec · North 18th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right

    75 m · 18 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jacksonville and Morehead City.

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
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
WB McLean Drive
16.2 mi · 38%
Freedom Way
9.3 mi · 22%
Lejeune Boulevard
6.22 mi · 15%
Arendell Street
4.06 mi · 9%
West Corbett Avenue
3.25 mi · 8%
Cedar Point Boulevard
2.91 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

WB McLean Drive

Continue on WB McLean Drive

16.2 mi · 00h 24m

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
01h 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
40 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cedar Point
00h 32m from Jacksonville
Leave By
4:18 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Jacksonville and Mostly Sunny near Morehead City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jacksonville to Morehead City?

The road trip is about 42.9 miles (69 km) and usually takes 01h 05m 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?

Cedar Point is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.4 miles from Jacksonville and 21.5 miles from Morehead City.

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

The direct path is about 40 miles (64.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.57 one way or $15.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Jacksonville and Mostly Sunny near Morehead City.

Stop Ideas Near Cedar Point

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

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

BUS

Havelock, NC

26 mi away
201 Tourist Center Drive
BUS

Jacksonville, NC

32 mi away
850 New Bridge Street
BUS

Morehead City, NC

33 mi away
1001 Arendell Street
BUS

New Bern, NC

46 mi away
203 South Front Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jacksonville and Morehead City. Straight-line distance: 40.04 mi (64.44 km).

Jacksonville

#1 Jacksonville

The most populous city in Onslow County, North Carolina.

Population76,284
Coordinates34.7540500, -77.4302400
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Morehead City

#2 Morehead City

City in North Carolina, United States

Population9,669
Coordinates34.7229400, -76.7260400
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Jacksonville (-77.43024, 34.75405)
End: Morehead City (-76.72604, 34.72294)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 69 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.91 gal
7.22 L · about $7.57
Round trip
$15.13
3.82 gal · 14.44 L
Estimated CO2
17 kg one way
Round trip: 33.9 kg / 75 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.57 $15.13
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.46 $16.92
Premium $4.78 $9.13 $18.25
Diesel $5.62 $10.74 $21.48

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Jacksonville and Morehead City. The current time is 06:48:43.

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.