If you are planning a quick trip from Alamance to Concord, you are looking at a straightforward 89.1-mile drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it connects two familiar points within the Southeast region of North Carolina. You can expect to spend roughly $14 on fuel, making it a very economical trek. Because the journey is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated travel logistics. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, this highway-focused drive keeps things simple and direct.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.6 miles from Alamance, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 85
60.2 mi
1h 4m
Sam Hunt Freeway
8.8 mi
10m
I 40
7.7 mi
9m
US 29
5.4 mi
5m
Church Street North
2.2 mi
4m
Kirkpatrick Road
1.4 mi
2m
US 601
1 mi
1m
University Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alamance, NC and Concord, 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
0.2 mi·20 sec·Alamance Road
4
Turn left onto Kirkpatrick Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Kirkpatrick Road
5
Turn left onto Grand Oaks Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Grand Oaks Boulevard
6
Continue on University Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·University Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
8
Merge onto I 40; I 85
8.8 mi·10 min·Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi·5 min·US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: CharlotteUse the left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 601
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 601
Exit 58Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
0.8 mi·1 min·US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord DowntownUse the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi·4 min·Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact drive with no mandatory stops required, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak rush hour times to ensure you maintain that 1 hour and 43-minute estimate, especially when merging onto the busier sections of I-85. Given that your total fuel cost is estimated at just $14, you can easily budget for a full tank before you leave to avoid mid-trip refueling. Take advantage of the lack of required stops by keeping your momentum steady, but always stay alert for potential traffic congestion along the I-40 and I-85 corridors. Keeping your pace consistent is the best way to make this quick trip feel like a breeze.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.6 miles from Alamance, NC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alamance, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alamance, NC
This is one driving day of about 89.1 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Alamance, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 89 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.3 mi into trip|~16m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
20 mi into trip|~25m in|US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
8
85.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 601
Take the exit onto US 601 toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 601
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downt...
7
89 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.93 one way
$27.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.23
$30.47
premium
$4.70
$16.49
$32.98
diesel
$5.61
$19.67
$39.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.36
$4.28
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.80
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Alamance, NC
Late night
in Alamance on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very efficient trip, as 94% of your time will be spent cruising on major highways. You will primarily navigate via I-40, the Sam Hunt Freeway, and I-85, which keeps the pace fast and consistent. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 60.2-mile stretch on I-85, which serves as the backbone of this journey. Because the route is so heavily reliant on interstates, you can anticipate a steady, high-speed experience rather than a winding backroads adventure. It is a functional and predictable drive that prioritizes speed and reliability over technical or scenic detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.2 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.6 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Concord is a city in North Carolina and fast-growing bedroom community of the major city of Charlotte. In 2020, the population was around 107,000, making it the second largest city of the Charlotte Metro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 89.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.2 miles on I 85. 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 Concord, 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 12.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.6 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Concord, NC before heading back.
