Origin
Alamance, NC
Morning in Alamance on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alamance, NC to Cary, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamance, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the Southeast, the 54-mile journey from Alamance to Cary is an efficient option. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 6 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the trip, which relies heavily on major thoroughfares. Because the route is short and focused on highway travel, there is no need to plan for overnight stays. This drive is ideal for those who prioritize speed and reliability over wandering backroads, serving as a direct connection between these two North Carolina locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 28.8 mi | 33m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| North Harrison Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Alamance Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| S NC Highway 62 E | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cardinal Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Academy Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 28.8 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alamance, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Cardinal Lane
33 ft
·
3 sec
·
Cardinal Lane
2
Turn right onto NC 62
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
S NC Highway 62 E
3
Continue on NC 62
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 40 East, I 85 North: Graham
5
Merge onto I 40; I 85
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cary
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto SR 1652
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Alamance, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 53.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East, I 85 North: Graham
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East, I 85 North: Graham
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge onto I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
6
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Cary
5
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.44 one way
$16.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.23 | $18.47 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.99 | $19.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cary, NC
Morning in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
55°F
Hillsborough, NC
27 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience with 89% of your travel occurring on major roads. The core of the drive features a significant 28.8-mile stretch on I-40, which keeps your momentum steady for the majority of the trip. As you move toward your destination, the path transitions from the interstate onto the Sam Hunt Freeway and eventually North Harrison Avenue. You will find that this is not a route for leisurely sightseeing, but rather a functional, no-nonsense commute. The road layout is designed for consistency, allowing you to maintain a predictable pace from start to finish.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
675 ft
544 ft
Total Climb
131 ft
Total Descent
47 ft
Highest Point
675 ft
~18 mi in
Elevation Range
131 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Cary, NC
Full guide →Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital, but has developed some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cary, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cary, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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