Origin
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, 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
1h 2m
Distance
50.9 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.9-mile drive from Burlington, NC, to Cary, NC, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is predominantly highway, accounting for 85% of the journey. With a projected fuel cost of $8, this is an economical option for travelers within the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway, with a brief stint on North Harrison Avenue. This drive is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 28.8 mi | 33m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| North Harrison Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Webb Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Harden Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Harden Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 28.8 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn right onto NC 87; NC 100
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Continue on NC 87
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Elm Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Harden Street
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto NC 54
78 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
6
Continue on NC 54
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge onto I 40; I 85
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cary
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto SR 1652
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Burlington, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
NC 54 / East Harden Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 54 / East Harden Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge onto I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
6
47.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Cary
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.70 | $17.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.42 | $18.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 mph
0% chance
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
9 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 2m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 50.9-mile trip, with 85% of it spent on major roadways like I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.8 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace. While primarily high-speed, the route incorporates North Harrison Avenue, which may introduce slightly more varied driving conditions as you approach Cary. This drive prioritizes getting you there smoothly and directly, rather than offering winding scenic detours.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street.
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 50.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.8 miles on I 40. 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 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): 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.
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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