Traveling from the coast to the Piedmont, this 210.1-mile journey connects Carolina Beach to Concord in approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you should budget about $34 for fuel to complete the trip. It is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. The path transitions entirely within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast coastal region toward the inland heart of the state. Expect a mix of navigation through local corridors rather than a simple interstate cruise, making it a trip that requires your full attention behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105 miles from Carolina Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91.9 mi
1h 51m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 742
24.9 mi
35m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
Carolina Beach Road
11.9 mi
19m
US 601
9.6 mi
10m
NC 24
8.7 mi
13m
Ocean Highway East
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carolina Beach, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on this road
47 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 421
1.3 mi·3 min·North Lake Park Boulevard
3
Continue on US 421
6.1 mi·9 min·Carolina Beach Road
4
Turn left onto US 421
5.8 mi·10 min·Carolina Beach Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 421 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·South Front Street
6
Take the ramp onto US 421 Truck
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 421 Truck
7
Merge onto US 17; US 76; US 421
0.6 mi·57 sec·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
8
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
2.8 mi·3 min·Ocean Highway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 74; US 76
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
11
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
16
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·24 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
17
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 52; NC 742
18
Continue on NC 742
25 mi·35 min·NC 742
19
Continue on NC 205
1.7 mi·3 min·NC 205
20
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
8.7 mi·13 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto US 601
9.6 mi·10 min·US 601
22
Take the exit onto Union Street South
0.6 mi·58 sec·Union Street South
23
Continue on NC 3
2.3 mi·3 min·Branchview Drive Southeast
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn left onto NC 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
26
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
27
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4.5-hour trip, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive and keep your focus sharp. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the turn-heavy sections before any potential local traffic builds up. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning off the main highway stretches, to ensure you stay within your $34 budget. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your schedule based on your personal comfort. Pay close attention to your navigation when moving between the Andrew Jackson Highway and the smaller local roads to ensure you stay on the most efficient path to Concord.
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 105 miles from Carolina Beach, NC, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 46 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carolina Beach, 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 Carolina Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 210.1 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Carolina Beach, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 421 / North Lake Park Boulevard
Turn right onto US 421 / North Lake Park Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
131.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
146.1 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
5
209.3 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
210 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.86 one way
$65.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.92
$71.85
premium
$4.70
$38.89
$77.77
diesel
$5.61
$46.39
$92.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.06
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.41
$13.45
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Carolina Beach, NC
Afternoon
in Carolina Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Afternoon
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Rockingham, NC
105 mi in
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
6 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 rather than a monotonous highway slog, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local nature. Only 28% of your journey will be spent on major highways, leaving the remainder to navigate through smaller corridors. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time behind the wheel during a 91.9-mile stretch on the Andrew Jackson Highway. As you progress, you will shift between these longer, steady stretches and the more winding segments that characterize the American Indian Highway and NC 742. This combination makes for a dynamic drive that demands constant engagement with the road.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 421 / North Lake Park Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 210.1 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: near the start (US 421 / North Lake Park Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 131.7 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.1 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Carolina Beach is a beach town just south of Wilmington, North Carolina. The eastern side of the town is an ordinary built-up beach community, a popular summer destination for students and other beachgoers. But just to the west of town is something more unique: a state park where you can see rare Venus flytraps in the wild.
Concord is a city in North Carolina and fast-growing bedroom community of the major city of Charlotte. In 2020, the population was around 107,000, making it the second largest city of the Charlotte Metro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 210.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. 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 Concord, 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: near the start (US 421 / North Lake Park Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 131.7 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.1 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
