Carowinds Directions

I am planning a trip from Jacksonville, NC to Carowinds. However when I use mapquest it has me going pretty far north just to go back south. I was wondering if anyone knew a quick route to take. Thanks for any help. *** Edited 3/5/2007 11:16:31 PM UTC by MAGXL200***

Sometimes the longer route is also the quicker route.

I'm assuming mapquest sent you up 40 and down 85. Oddly enough, that is probably the fastest way to go.

If you want something more direct (shorter, but not quicker) try 17 to 74 and follow that into Charlotte.

I am looking for the fastest not shortest route, which is what I chose on mapquest. Ive just realized mapquest isnt always right though, so I was just looking for any other suggestions. Thanks though. *** Edited 3/6/2007 12:08:27 AM UTC by MAGXL200***

Looking at the map zoomed-out pretty far, it doesn't look there are any easy routes there. I worked a wedding in Pinehurst, NC and on the map it looks like it wouldn't take long to get there.

Unfortunately, due to the southern road system, it took over two-hours. There aren't a lot of direct routes in that part of the state. It's just a lot of squiggly lines:) We passed Rockingham Speedway on our way there and I seem to remember mostly two-lane roads with relatively low speed-limits.

So as an option, it looks like you might be able to go south and connect somehow with 74 through Rockingham. Whether it's faster or not than the route that takes you way north on 40, I couldn't tell you. I can definitely see though why you would want to avoid Mapquest's over five-hour prediction. Good luck.

I am originally from that side of the state and am now living in Charlotte (about 5 minutes from Carowinds, first time season-pass holder for any park in 2007, hooray!). I'm not sure how long it takes you to get to 40 from Jacksonville, but I've driven the 40-85 route and the 74 route from Wilmington (UNCW grad). It'll most likely take you about 3.5 hours to get there from Wilmington, and Wilmington to Charlotte on the interstates is probably about a 4.5 hour trip.

The thing is that it's probably about the same whether you take the interstates or whether you take 74 (for you' you'd probably take 41 over to Lumberton and pick up 74 there. The difference is that 40-85 is pretty straightforward, while if you take 41-74, you're going to go through a bunch of little tiny towns where the speed limit slows down. From Jacksonville, there probably isn't much difference timewise, it's just a matter of whether you want to go 70 the whole time, or whether you want to speed up and slow down more. Personally I'd take the interstates, because at least there's some signs of life on those, whereas there's not much in the backwoods of Hwy. 74.

Using Google Maps, it says to take I95, I26, I77. That route would take you thru Columbia. It didn't say if that would be the fastest or the shortest. I just asked it for directions. It would seem most direct to me.

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ChicagoCoasterCub said:
Using Google Maps, it says to take I95, I26, I77. That route would take you thru Columbia. It didn't say if that would be the fastest or the shortest. I just asked it for directions. It would seem most direct to me.

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Those would be great directions if he were coming from Jacksonville, FL. :)

(it's Jacksonville, NC)

Well thanks for the advice. I guess my best bet is still the original route taking I-40 and I-85. Thanks again anyways everyone.