Origin
Buies Creek, NC
Late night in Buies Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buies Creek, NC to Cary, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buies Creek, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
Buies Creek to Cary is 34.5 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Old Stage Road North and Lake Wheeler Road, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within North Carolina's Southeast region, offering a straightforward local drive. If you're looking for a quick transit between these two points without much fuss, this route will get you there efficiently. It's a practical option for a same-day trip, allowing plenty of time for whatever awaits you at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Stage Road North | 14.9 mi | 21m |
| Lake Wheeler Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Fanny Brown Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Ten Ten Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Tryon Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Old Stage Road North
— 14.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buies Creek, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
98 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn left onto Kivett Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Kivett Road
4
Turn left onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Leslie Campbell Avenue
5
Turn left onto Old Stage Road North
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Old Stage Road North
6
Turn left onto Fanny Brown Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Fanny Brown Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto Ten Ten Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ten Ten Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto Lake Wheeler Road
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Lake Wheeler Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Tryon Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Tryon Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto Gorman Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Gorman Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
12
Merge onto I 40; US 64
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
13
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Buies Creek, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 19.3 and 34.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Ten Ten Road
At end of road, turn left onto Ten Ten Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Lake Wheeler Road
Turn right onto Lake Wheeler Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
32 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
5
32.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
34.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
North Academy Street
Turn right onto North Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.40 one way
$10.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.90 | $11.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.39 | $12.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Cary, NC
Late night in Cary on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 34.5-mile journey, with only about 11% of the route on highways. You'll navigate through a series of local roads, including Old Stage Road North, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch at 14.9 miles. Lake Wheeler Road and the Dan K Moore Freeway will also be part of your navigation. The character of the drive involves frequent changes in direction rather than long, sweeping vistas, so staying attentive to your GPS will be key.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on Old Stage Road North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.3 miles in near Ten Ten Road.
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 34.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 19.3 miles (Ten Ten Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (Lake Wheeler Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on Old Stage Road North. 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 19.3 miles (Ten Ten Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (Lake Wheeler Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cary, NC
More from Buies Creek, NC
More trips to Cary, NC
Explore more options from Buies Creek, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.