Origin
Buies Creek, NC
Morning in Buies Creek on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buies Creek, NC to Charlotte, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
148.6 mi
239 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buies Creek, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buies Creek to Charlotte is 148.6 miles and takes about 3h 19m via US 1 and Monroe Expressway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The drive offers a mixed experience, meaning you'll encounter both faster highway sections and potentially slower local roads. Given the relatively short duration, it's a straightforward journey suitable for a single day, allowing you to reach Charlotte without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a practical, no-frills trip focused on getting you to your destination efficiently.
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
74.3 miles from Buies Creek, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 43.4 mi | 52m |
| West Old Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| Monroe Expressway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Broad Avenue | 15.5 mi | 20m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| NC 24 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Independence Boulevard | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| East Independence Expressway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 43.4 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buies Creek, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
98 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn right onto Kivett Road
389 ft
·
14 sec
·
Kivett Road
4
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
90 ft
·
4 sec
·
Leslie Campbell Avenue
6
Continue on Leslie Campbell Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Leslie Campbell Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
191 ft
·
6 sec
·
Leslie Campbell Avenue
8
Continue on Leslie Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Leslie Campbell Avenue
9
Merge onto US 421; NC 27
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Cornelius Harnett Boulevard
10
Turn left onto US 401; US 421; NC 27; NC 210
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
11
Turn right onto US 421 TRK
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South 10th Street
12
Turn right onto NC 27
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Old Road
13
Continue on NC 24; NC 27
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
NC 24; NC 27
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
15
Merge onto US 1
43 mi
·
52 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto East Green Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Green Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 74 BUS
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Broad Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
20
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
22
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
23
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Marshville Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 74
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Monroe Expressway
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto US 74
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Independence Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Use the slight right lane.
30
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
31
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Tryon Street
32
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Charlotte with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch on US 1 is over 43 miles, so consider refueling before you begin this segment if your tank is low. While there's only one stop noted, plan for a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost of $23 is a good baseline, but always check current prices.
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 74.3 miles from Buies Creek, NC, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 33 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 39m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buies 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 Buies Creek, NC
This is one driving day of about 148.6 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Buies 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 1 for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.3 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 147.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Leslie Campbell Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Leslie Campbell Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
79.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
116.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
|
US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 BYP / Monroe Expressway toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 74 Toll Bypass West: Charlotte
7
147.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.24 one way
$46.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $25.41 | $50.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $27.50 | $55.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.81 | $65.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.00 | $5.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.80 | $9.51 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Charlotte, NC
Morning in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
6:15 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
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
3h 19m 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?
This route presents a mixed drive, with 51% of it on highways. You'll experience about 43.4 miles on US 1 as a significant uninterrupted stretch, offering a consistent pace. The journey includes segments on West Old Road and the Monroe Expressway, suggesting a blend of highway speeds and potentially more varied road conditions as you approach and enter Charlotte. Expect the driving feel to evolve, moving from potentially more open stretches to more developed areas. It's not a purely interstate grind but also not exclusively rural backroads.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Leslie Campbell Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 148.6 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 0.5 miles (Leslie Campbell Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (Leslie Campbell Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.1 miles (US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Charlotte, NC
Full guide →Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas. Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
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 3h 19m. Total distance: 148.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on US 1. 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 Charlotte, 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 0.5 miles (Leslie Campbell Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (Leslie Campbell Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.1 miles (US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Charlotte, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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