Spanning 127.8 miles, this journey from Brices Creek to Cary takes approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, it is best suited for a single-day trip. You should budget roughly $20 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward trip that moves you from the coastal-adjacent area of Brices Creek into the central region of North Carolina. Keep in mind that this is a localized transit experience rather than a major interstate trek, making it ideal if you prefer avoiding heavy highway traffic.
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
63.9 miles from Brices Creek, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 70
58.2 mi
1h 8m
Goldsboro Bypass
20.2 mi
21m
I 40
18.3 mi
20m
US 70 BYP
10.1 mi
12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
10 mi
11m
Brices Creek Road
2.5 mi
6m
Chapel Hill Road
2.2 mi
3m
West New Bern Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 58.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brices Creek, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Perrytown Loop Road
170 ft·9 sec·Perrytown Loop Road
2
Turn right onto Brices Creek Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Brices Creek Road
3
Continue on Madame Moores Lane
1.6 mi·3 min·Madame Moores Lane
4
At end of road, turn left onto Howell Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Howell Road
5
Take the ramp
269 ft·6 sec
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto US 70
35 mi·39 min·US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258
2.1 mi·3 min·West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 70; US 258
1.6 mi·2 min·West Vernon Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 70
9.6 mi·11 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 42
20 mi·21 min·Goldsboro Bypass
12
Continue on US 70
1.2 mi·1 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 70
10 mi·14 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
10 mi·12 min·US 70 BYP
16
Continue on I 42
10.0 mi·11 min·Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
17
Merge onto I 40
18 mi·20 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward NC 54: CaryUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi·3 min·Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft·0 sec·North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple, as the 2-hour and 36-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for your departure time. Since the route involves only one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel or stretch your legs before tackling the remaining local roads. Because you are navigating turn-heavy local lanes, ensure your GPS is updated and clear, as the frequent changes in direction can be easy to miss if you are distracted. Aim to avoid peak local traffic hours to keep your transit time as close to the estimate as possible. A solid tip for this specific drive is to keep your fuel costs in mind, as the $20 estimate is based on typical local road efficiency; keeping your speed steady on these secondary roads will help you stick to that budget.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.9 miles from Brices Creek, NC, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.2 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.9 miles or 1h 19m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cary, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brices Creek, 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 Brices Creek, NC
This is one driving day of about 127.8 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Brices Creek, 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 US 70 for about 58.2 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 4.1 and 125.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~10m in|Howell Road
At end of road, turn left onto Howell Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
4.9 mi into trip|~12m in|US 70
Merge onto US 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
40 mi into trip|~51m in|US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 54: Cary
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.99 one way
$39.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.85
$43.70
premium
$4.70
$23.65
$47.31
diesel
$5.61
$28.22
$56.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.3
0
$13.42
$6.13
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.18
$5.11
EV Truck/SUV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Brices Creek, NC
Late night
in Brices Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cary, NC
Late night
in Cary on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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
2h 36m 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 hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, relying entirely on local roads like Brices Creek Road, Madame Moores Lane, and Howell Road. The character of the drive is defined by its turn-heavy nature, requiring your full attention as you navigate through the local infrastructure. Because you are traveling on secondary roads, the drive feels more personal and connected to the landscape than a standard interstate commute. You will find that the pace remains consistent since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed travel. Navigating these specific local passages provides a distinct contrast to the monotony of major freeways, keeping you engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the 127.8-mile journey.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.2 mi on US 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and Goldsboro Bypass. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near Howell Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 127.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (Howell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles (US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
497 ft0 ft
Total Climb
599 ft
Total Descent
128 ft
Highest Point
497 ft
~127.8 mi in
Elevation Range
497 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 127.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.2 miles on US 70. 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.
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: at 4.1 miles (Howell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles (US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
