Origin
Burnsville, NC
Morning in Burnsville on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnsville, 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
1h 5m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnsville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.3-mile drive from Burnsville, NC, to Charlotte, NC, is designed for a single day, taking just about 1 hour and 5 minutes. You'll be spending 96% of your time on highways, making it a straightforward journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, which is quite budget-friendly for a trip of this nature. Given the short distance and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a quick transit between the Southeast regions of North Carolina. It's a practical option if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 24 | 25.2 mi | 38m |
| NC 742 | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| East Independence Expressway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| NC 205 | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Independence Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Tryon Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Tryon Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 25.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on NC 742
12 mi
·
16 min
·
NC 742
2
Continue on NC 205
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 205
3
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
25 mi
·
38 min
·
NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
5
Continue on US 74; NC 27
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
9
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Tryon Street
10
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Burnsville, 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
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
13.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
NC 24; NC 27
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
42.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
3
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
North Tryon Street
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.77 one way
$13.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.40 | $14.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.01 | $16.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 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 | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Midland, NC
22 mi in
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
1 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 5m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 1 hour and 5 minute drive. With 96% of the route on highways, you'll encounter minimal local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 25.2 miles, primarily on NC 24. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. The roads are designed for steady travel, so you can anticipate a fairly predictable driving experience from start to finish.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and NC 742. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near NC 24; NC 27.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Burnsville, NC to Charlotte, NC is easy. At 1h 5m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.1 miles (North Tryon Street): Navigation decision point.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on NC 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.1 miles (North Tryon Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC
More trips to Charlotte, NC
Explore more options from Burnsville, NC or browse trips ending in Charlotte, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.