How far is Sunset Beach, NC from Charlotte, NC?

The driving distance from Sunset Beach, NC to Charlotte, NC is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162 miles (260.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 35m 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
201.39 mi
03h 47m
Flight
162 mi
260.71 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sunset Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162 mi
Kilometers
260.71 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
201.39 mi
Kilometers
324.11 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlotte
Sat, Apr 18, 5:44 AM EDT
Return by in Sunset Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 9:32 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sunset Beach
2026-04-18T01:56
Arrive Charlotte
Sat, Apr 18, 5:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:48 AM to 11:48 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
9:24 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sunset Beach
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
Gibson
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Sunset Beach
93.8 mi
01h 53m
To Charlotte
107.6 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph SW
Destination
92°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sunset Beach and Charlotte.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sunset Beach and Charlotte.

  1. 1

    Start on Sunset Boulevard South

    1889 ft · 47 sec · Sunset Boulevard South

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Sunset Boulevard North

    7 m · 1 sec · Sunset Boulevard North

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard North

    549 ft · 12 sec · Sunset Boulevard North

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Shoreline Drive West

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Shoreline Drive West

  5. 5

    Continue on Beach Drive Southwest

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Beach Drive Southwest

  6. 6

    Continue on Beach Drive Southwest

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Beach Drive Southwest

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1.1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto US Highway 17

    3.8 mi · 7 min · US Highway 17

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 31, Loris, Myrtle Beach

    1512 ft · 42 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Highway 9 East

    13.9 mi · 20 min · Highway 9 East

  11. 11

    Turn straight

    24.5 mi · 30 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Highway 76

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Highway 76

  13. 13

    Continue on South Nichols Street

    2714 ft · 1 min · South Nichols Street

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    59 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    8.2 mi · 13 min · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West 3rd Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · West 3rd Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on Dillon Highway

    12.5 mi · 19 min · Dillon Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto US Highway 301 North

    1.5 km · 1 min · US Highway 301 North

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Radford Boulevard

    25.8 mi · 31 min · Radford Boulevard

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Cottingham Boulevard South

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Cottingham Boulevard South

  21. 21

    Turn left

    12.9 mi · 15 min

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Front Street

    2012 ft · 28 sec · Front Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Market Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Market Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Chesterfield Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Chesterfield Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on East Boulevard

    6.3 mi · 7 min · East Boulevard

  26. 26

    Continue on East Main Street

    616 ft · 8 sec · East Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto East Boulevard

    18.6 mi · 22 min · East Boulevard

  28. 28

    Continue on McGregor Street

    2113 ft · 27 sec · McGregor Street

  29. 29

    Continue on East Mc Gregor Street

    548 ft · 9 sec · East Mc Gregor Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Van Lingle Mungo Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Van Lingle Mungo Boulevard

  31. 31

    Continue straight

    14.7 mi · 17 min

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn slight left onto East Roosevelt Boulevard

    4.8 mi · 6 min · East Roosevelt Boulevard

  33. 33

    Continue on Independence Boulevard

    14.6 mi · 21 min · Independence Boulevard

  34. 34

    Continue on East Independence Expressway

    5.4 mi · 7 min · East Independence Expressway

  35. 35

    Continue on East Independence Boulevard

    2250 ft · 27 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street

    998 ft · 26 sec

  37. 37

    Continue on East 6th Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · East 6th Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto North Tryon Street

    918 ft · 20 sec · North Tryon Street

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Tryon Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sunset Beach and Charlotte.

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
39 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Radford Boulevard
25.8 mi · 13%
East Boulevard
24.8 mi · 12%
Van Lingle Mungo Boulevard
15.9 mi · 8%
Independence Boulevard
14.6 mi · 7%
Highway 9 East
13.9 mi · 7%
Dillon Highway
12.5 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Radford Boulevard

Turn left onto Radford Boulevard

25.8 mi · 00h 31m

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 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.4 mi
162 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gibson
01h 53m from Sunset Beach
Leave By
9:24 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sunset Beach and Mostly Sunny near Charlotte.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sunset Beach to Charlotte?

The road trip is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km) and usually takes 03h 47m 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?

Gibson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.8 miles from Sunset Beach and 107.6 miles from Charlotte.

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

The direct path is about 162 miles (260.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.4 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 9:24 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.16 one way or $56.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sunset Beach and Mostly Sunny near Charlotte.

Stop Ideas Near Gibson

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

16 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Dillon

44 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

50 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Florence

64 mi away
805 East Day Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sunset Beach and Charlotte. Straight-line distance: 162 mi (260.71 km).

Sunset Beach

#1 Sunset Beach

City in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population4,172
Coordinates33.8807300, -78.5122300
Altitude0
CountryUnited States
Charlotte

#2 Charlotte

The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Population900,350
Coordinates35.2270900, -80.8431300
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Start: Sunset Boulevard South (-78.511302, 33.881123)
End: South Tryon Street (-80.843177, 35.227134)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 324 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.11 gal
26.9 L · about $28.16
Round trip
$56.33
14.22 gal · 53.8 L
Estimated CO2
63.2 kg one way
Round trip: 126.4 kg / 279 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.16 $56.33
Mid-grade $4.43 $31.49 $62.98
Premium $4.78 $33.97 $67.94
Diesel $5.62 $39.99 $79.97

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Sunset Beach and Charlotte. The current time is 01:56:37.

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.