How far is Lake Waccamaw, NC from Charlotte, NC?
The driving distance from Lake Waccamaw, NC to Charlotte, NC is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 147 miles (236.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 24m 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 03h 12m.
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.
Small settlement in a rural area
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Waccamaw and Charlotte.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Waccamaw and Charlotte.
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1
Start on West Oak Street
11 m · 5 sec · West Oak Street
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2
Turn left onto Pecan Lane
1064 ft · 52 sec · Pecan Lane
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3
Turn left onto Sam Potts Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Sam Potts Highway
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4
Turn right onto Chauncey Town Road
1913 ft · 38 sec · Chauncey Town Road
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Chauncey Town Road
89 m · 6 sec · Chauncey Town Road
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chauncey Town Road
41 m · 3 sec · Chauncey Town Road
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7
Exit the roundabout onto Chauncey Town Road
934 ft · 19 sec · Chauncey Town Road
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Chauncey Town Road
29 m · 2 sec · Chauncey Town Road
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
77 m · 5 sec
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10
Exit the roundabout
2319 ft · 57 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
27.8 mi · 31 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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12
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 37 min · American Indian Highway
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13
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
20.2 mi · 23 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi · 15 min · G R Kindley Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11.6 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
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16
Continue on East Caswell Street
2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street
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17
Continue on Salisbury Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street
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18
Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway
6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
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20
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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21
Continue on East Marshville Boulevard
2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard
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22
Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway
18.4 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
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24
Merge slight right onto Independence Boulevard
7.1 mi · 10 min · Independence Boulevard
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25
Continue on East Independence Expressway
5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway
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26
Continue on East Independence Boulevard
2250 ft · 27 sec · East Independence Boulevard
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
998 ft · 26 sec
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28
Continue on East 6th Street
1.1 km · 2 min · East 6th Street
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29
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
918 ft · 20 sec · North Tryon Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Tryon Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Waccamaw and Charlotte.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
American Indian Highway
Continue on American Indian Highway
33.6 mi · 00h 37m
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.
Sunny leaving Lake Waccamaw and Sunny near Charlotte.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lake Waccamaw to Charlotte?
The road trip is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km) and usually takes 03h 12m 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?
Hamlet is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82 miles from Lake Waccamaw and 93.6 miles from Charlotte.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 147 miles (236.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.7 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 10:36 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.56 one way or $49.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lake Waccamaw and Sunny near Charlotte.
Stop Ideas Near Hamlet
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 Hamlet.
Hamlet
Southern Pines
Dillon
Fayetteville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lake Waccamaw and Charlotte. Straight-line distance: 147.04 mi (236.63 km).
#1 Lake Waccamaw
Town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States
| Population | 1,392 |
| Coordinates | 34.3190600, -78.5000100 |
| Altitude | 18 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Charlotte
The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.
| Population | 900,350 |
| Coordinates | 35.2270900, -80.8431300 |
| Altitude | 229 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Tryon Street (-80.843177, 35.227134)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 283 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $24.56 | $49.12 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $27.46 | $54.92 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $29.62 | $59.25 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $34.87 | $69.74 |
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 20, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.