How far is Pinehurst, NC from Cape Carteret, NC?

The driving distance from Pinehurst, NC to Cape Carteret, NC is about 173 miles (278.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.7 miles (226.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 53m 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
173 mi
03h 56m
Flight
140.67 mi
226.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pinehurst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
140.67 mi
Kilometers
226.38 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
173 mi
Kilometers
278.41 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Carteret
Mon, Aug 24, 6:12 AM EDT
Return by in Pinehurst
Mon, Aug 24, 10:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pinehurst
2026-08-24T02:15
Arrive Cape Carteret
Mon, Aug 24, 6:12 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 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
9:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pinehurst
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
Faison
NC

Township in Duplin County, North Carolina

From Pinehurst
86.4 mi
01h 58m
To Cape Carteret
86.6 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Aug 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NE
Destination
Cape Carteret Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
90°F
Monday
Using Kinston as the closest live forecast in the North Carolina weather hub.

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Aug 24 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pinehurst and Cape Carteret.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pinehurst and Cape Carteret.

  1. 1

    Start on Chinquapin Road

    67 m · 9 sec · Chinquapin Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Cherokee Road

    1760 ft · 49 sec · Cherokee Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Field Road

    48 m · 11 sec · Field Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Midland Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Midland Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Midland Road

    665 ft · 22 sec · Midland Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Midland Road

    3.5 mi · 8 min · Midland Road

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Midland Road

    1477 ft · 29 sec · Midland Road

  8. 8

    Turn slight left

    103 m · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Yadkin Road

    131 m · 7 sec · Yadkin Road

  10. 10

    Take the ramp straight

    920 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto North Sandhills Boulevard

    7.1 mi · 10 min · North Sandhills Boulevard

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1719 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1831 ft · 38 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Lobelia Road

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Lobelia Road

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Lobelia Road

    6.6 mi · 9 min · Lobelia Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Vass Road

    6.9 mi · 10 min · Vass Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Bragg Boulevard

    2.6 mi · 4 min · North Bragg Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on Murchison Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Murchison Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 295 North

    3206 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Fayetteville Outer Loop

    11.1 mi · 13 min · Fayetteville Outer Loop

  21. 21

    Continue on Goldsboro Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · Goldsboro Road

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Goldsboro Road

    6.9 mi · 8 min · Goldsboro Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Fayetteville Highway

    9.3 mi · 11 min · Fayetteville Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Newton Grove Highway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Newton Grove Highway

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Warren Mill Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Warren Mill Road

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Harnett-Dunn Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Harnett-Dunn Highway

  27. 27

    Take the ramp right

    1427 ft · 35 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    31.3 mi · 34 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville

    1701 ft · 48 sec

  30. 30

    Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass

    4.1 mi · 6 min · South Kenansville Bypass

  31. 31

    Turn right onto D S Williams Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · D S Williams Road

  32. 32

    Turn right

    5.1 mi · 7 min

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Hallsville Road

    4.4 mi · 6 min · Hallsville Road

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Jackson Store Road

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Jackson Store Road

  35. 35

    At the end of the road, turn left

    14.4 mi · 21 min

  36. 36

    Merge slight left onto Richlands Highway

    5 mi · 8 min · Richlands Highway

  37. 37

    Continue straight

    3 mi · 4 min

  38. 38

    Continue on Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge

    1856 ft · 29 sec · Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge

  39. 39

    Continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Ronald W. Reagan Freeway

  40. 40

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald W. Reagan Freeway

    1 km · 49 sec · Ronald W. Reagan Freeway

  41. 41

    Merge slight left onto Lejeune Boulevard

    5.2 mi · 8 min · Lejeune Boulevard

  42. 42

    Continue on Freedom Way

    9.3 mi · 12 min · Freedom Way

  43. 43

    Continue on West Corbett Avenue

    3.2 mi · 7 min · West Corbett Avenue

  44. 44

    Continue on Cedar Point Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Cedar Point Boulevard

  45. 45

    Continue on WB McLean Drive

    2317 ft · 1 min · WB McLean Drive

  46. 46

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · WB McLean Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pinehurst and Cape Carteret.

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
46 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Harnett-Dunn Highway
32.3 mi · 19%
Lobelia Road
11.3 mi · 7%
Fayetteville Outer Loop
11.1 mi · 6%
Freedom Way
9.3 mi · 5%
Fayetteville Highway
9.29 mi · 5%
Richlands Highway
8.02 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Harnett-Dunn Highway

Merge slight left

31.3 mi · 00h 34m

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 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.3 mi
140.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Faison
01h 58m from Pinehurst
Leave By
9:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pinehurst and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cape Carteret.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pinehurst to Cape Carteret?

The road trip is about 173 miles (278.4 km) and usually takes 03h 56m 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?

Faison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.4 miles from Pinehurst and 86.6 miles from Cape Carteret.

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

The direct path is about 140.7 miles (226.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.3 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 9:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.20 one way or $48.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pinehurst and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cape Carteret.

Stop Ideas Near Faison

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

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

BUS

Goldsboro, NC

33 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

48 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

52 mi away
101 East New Bern Road
RAIL

Fayetteville

68 mi away
472 Hay Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pinehurst and Cape Carteret. Straight-line distance: 140.67 mi (226.38 km).

Pinehurst

#1 Pinehurst

Village in North Carolina

Population15,752
Coordinates35.1954300, -79.4694800
Altitude160
CountryUnited States
Cape Carteret

#2 Cape Carteret

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population2,061
Coordinates34.6915500, -77.0630000
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Pinehurst (-79.46948, 35.19543)
End: Cape Carteret (-77.063, 34.69155)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.11 gal
23.11 L · about $24.20
Round trip
$48.40
12.22 gal · 46.22 L
Estimated CO2
54.3 kg one way
Round trip: 108.6 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.20 $48.40
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.06 $54.12
Premium $4.78 $29.19 $58.39
Diesel $5.62 $34.36 $68.73

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 · Aug 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Pinehurst and Cape Carteret. The current time is 02:15:51.

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.