Belmont to Apex is 138.1 miles and takes about 3h 15m via NC Highway 49 and US 64, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across North Carolina, staying within the Southeast region and the state of North Carolina throughout. Expect a mixed drive with a substantial portion on main highways, but also some time on local roads. This is a straightforward, one-day journey that's manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.1 miles from Belmont, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on this road
121 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Glenway Street
355 ft·19 sec·Glenway Street
3
Turn right onto NC 7
0.3 mi·39 sec·Catawba Street
4
Turn left onto NC 273
0.9 mi·1 min·Park Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 85 NorthUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 85
0.4 mi·27 sec·Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
7
Continue on I 85
15 mi·18 min·Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 43Toward University City Boulevard, Ikea BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
126 ft·3 sec
Toward Ikea Boulevard
10
Turn right onto University City Boulevard
5.7 mi·9 min·University City Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on NC 49
56 mi·1 hr 16 min·NC Highway 49
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on NC 49
0.2 mi·38 sec·NC 49
13
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·West Dixie Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
7.1 mi·10 min·Richard K. Pugh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 64; NC 49
24 mi·35 min·Jordan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
22 mi·28 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward NC 55: Apex, Durham
18
Turn right onto NC 55
1.1 mi·1 min·West Williams Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Hunter Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Hunter Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto North Salem Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·North Salem Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Salem Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour, 15-minute duration, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning from Belmont should allow you to arrive in Apex with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $22, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 55.6-mile stretch on NC Highway 49, as services might be less frequent there than on major interstates. Planning your departure time can help you avoid any potential local traffic closer to Apex.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.1 miles from Belmont, NC, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 30 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.1 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belmont, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belmont, NC
This is one driving day of about 138.1 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Belmont, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NC Highway 49 for about 55.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 113.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Glenway Street
Turn left onto Glenway Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 North
8
17.2 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward University City Boulevard, Ikea Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward University City Boulevard, Ikea Boulevar...
6
17.5 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Ikea Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Ikea Boulevard
6
113.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.60 one way
$43.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.61
$47.23
premium
$4.70
$25.56
$51.12
diesel
$5.61
$30.49
$60.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.4
0
$14.50
$6.63
Efficient EV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
EV Truck/SUV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Belmont, NC
Late night
in Belmont on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Apex, NC
Late night
in Apex on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Troy, NC
69 mi in
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
18 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
3h 15m 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?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 56% of it on highways. You'll cover a significant 55.6 miles on NC Highway 49 without interruption, giving you a good stretch of consistent travel. As you progress, the road character will shift between these main arteries and potentially some more local or secondary roads as you approach your destination. It's not an all-interstate grind, nor is it a purely rural backroad adventure, providing a balanced driving feel.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.6 mi on NC Highway 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Glenway Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 138.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Glenway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 138.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.6 miles on NC Highway 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Apex, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Glenway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Apex, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
