Origin
Cary, NC
Late night in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cary, NC to Archer Lodge, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
30.4 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Archer Lodge, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Cary to Archer Lodge, you are looking at a manageable 30.4-mile trek through the heart of North Carolina. This journey typically takes about 40 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Chapel Hill Road, the Dan K Moore Freeway, and the Thomas Bradshaw Freeway to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this is a highly economical route for any traveler. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you can expect a familiar landscape throughout the short transition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 87 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Smithfield Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Buffalo Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Lake Wendell Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Bissette Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Archer Lodge, NC.
1
Start on North Academy Street
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Academy Street
2
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 87; US 64
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 9
Toward South Smithfield Road
9
Turn right onto Smithfield Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Smithfield Road
10
Turn left onto Bissette Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bissette Road
11
Continue on State Road 2508
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Road 2508
12
Continue on Lake Wendell Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Wendell Road
13
Turn right onto Buffalo Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Buffalo Road
14
Arrive at destination
Buffalo Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 87; I 440; US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64 toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rock...
8
15.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 87; US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64 toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward South Smithfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 9
Toward South Smithfield Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.75 one way
$9.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.20 | $10.40 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.63 | $11.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Archer Lodge, NC
Late night in Archer Lodge on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
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
40m 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 that keeps you engaged rather than lulled by a monotonous interstate cruise. Because this route involves zero percent highway driving, you will spend your time navigating local thoroughfares rather than maintaining high speeds on long, straight stretches. The road requires your full attention as you transition between the three main freeways, offering a driving experience defined by frequent adjustments rather than open-road cruising. It is a practical, functional transit path that prioritizes connectivity across local areas over scenic highway touring. You will find that the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches makes this a very active 40-minute experience behind the wheel.
63% 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: 8.9 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Dan K Moore Freeway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill 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 30.4 miles you will encounter 7 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 (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
497 ft
171 ft
Total Climb
287 ft
Total Descent
447 ft
Highest Point
497 ft
Elevation Range
326 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cary, NC and Archer Lodge, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
Wilson
15.3 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 87; US 64
Greenville
15.3 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 87; US 64
About the Cities
Starting in Cary, NC
Full guide →Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital, but has developed some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
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 40m. Total distance: 30.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on I 87. 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 Archer Lodge, 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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Archer Lodge, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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