This 141.9-mile drive from Cary, NC, to Myrtle Grove, NC, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-40, with a significant 90% of the journey on highways, making it a straightforward transit. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, it’s an economical option for exploring more of the Southeast region. You'll experience a predominantly highway-focused drive that's well-suited for getting from point A to point B efficiently, with only one recommended stop along the way. This trip offers a practical way to connect two points within North Carolina without requiring an overnight stay.
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
71 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
109.4 mi
1h 57m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
11.3 mi
12m
North College Road
9.4 mi
15m
Dan K Moore Freeway
7.1 mi
8m
Chapel Hill Road
2 mi
3m
Piner Road
0.8 mi
1m
North Academy Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Myrtle Grove, 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 right at fork onto I 40
8.1 mi·9 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·2 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland RdUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
10
Continue on US 117; NC 132
9.4 mi·15 min·North College Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Piner Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Piner Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Piner Road
283 ft·5 sec·Piner Road
13
Arrive at destination
Piner Road
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 41-minute duration for this 141.9-mile trip, it’s ideal for a single-day excursion. You can leave Cary, NC, in the morning and arrive in Myrtle Grove, NC, by lunchtime. The longest stretch of 109.4 miles on I-40 means you can plan your single stop strategically, perhaps midway through this segment for a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $22 for the trip. A practical tip for this route: since it's primarily highway, consider leaving slightly earlier on a weekday to bypass any potential commuter traffic on the initial stretches out of Cary.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 19m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Grove, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cary, 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 Cary, NC
This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cary, 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 I 40 for about 109.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.7 — 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.
5
12.5 mi into trip|~15m in|I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
6
20.6 mi into trip|~25m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.7 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.19 one way
$44.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.26
$48.53
premium
$4.70
$26.26
$52.53
diesel
$5.61
$31.33
$62.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
EV Truck/SUV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Cary, NC
Morning
in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Grove, NC
Morning
in Myrtle Grove on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
3 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
2h 41m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 117.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 141.9-mile journey, with 90% of the drive on high-speed roads. The bulk of your travel, a continuous stretch of 109.4 miles, will be on I-40. This means you'll be on a familiar interstate system for a significant portion of the trip, facilitated by roads like Thomas Bradshaw Freeway and North College Road. While the character is largely that of steady highway travel, the transition onto I-40 will offer the longest uninterrupted driving segment, allowing for consistent progress toward your destination.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 7 significant decision points across 141.9 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: 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 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cary, NC to Myrtle Grove, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 141.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.4 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 Myrtle Grove, 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 (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 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Myrtle Grove, NC before heading back.
