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Trip from Cary, NC to Toast, NC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

131.5 mi

212 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 27m ★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Cary, NC, NC

Cary, NC

C k

Downtown Toast, NC, NC

Toast, NC

Jahra Tasfia Reza

Trip Overview

This 131.5-mile drive from Cary, North Carolina, to Toast, North Carolina, is an easy one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes. You'll navigate primarily along the Dan K. Moore Freeway, John Gold Memorial Expressway, and I-40, with 42% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this relatively short trip is around $21. Given the manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single day's adventure without the need for an overnight stay, offering a straightforward journey through the Southeast region.

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

65.8 miles from Cary, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dan K. Moore Frwy 59.8 mi 1h 9m
John Gold Memorial Expressway 20.9 mi 23m
I 40 20.3 mi 24m
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway 11.1 mi 12m
Salem Parkway 6.5 mi 7m
South Andy Griffith Parkway 5.8 mi 7m
North Harrison Avenue 3.3 mi 5m
NC 74 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Dan K. Moore Frwy — 59.8 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Toast, NC.

1

Start on North Academy Street

24 ft · 5 sec · North Academy Street
2

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Chapel Hill Road
3

Turn right onto SR 1652

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 41 sec
5

Merge onto I 40

60 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421

6.5 mi · 7 min · Salem Parkway
Exit 206 Toward US 421 North: Kernersville Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 227 Toward NC 74 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on NC 74

11 mi · 12 min · Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74

1.8 mi · 2 min · NC 74
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto US 52

21 mi · 23 min · John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52

5.8 mi · 7 min · South Andy Griffith Parkway
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
15

Turn left onto NC 89

0.4 mi · 40 sec · West Pine Street
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right

221 ft · 16 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under three hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any spontaneous stops. You'll encounter only one recommended stop along the way, so plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $21, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. A specific tip for this route: be aware of the 59.8-mile stretch on the Dan K. Moore Freeway; ensure you're comfortable with that continuous segment before you begin.

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 65.8 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 29 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65.8 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Toast, 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 131.5 miles and 2h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 Dan K. Moore Frwy for about 59.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greensboro, NC

66 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.

Popular next leg

Greensboro, NC to Toast, NC

62.5 mi · 1h 16m

Pacing Suggestions

Hillsborough, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greensboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.8 miles from Cary, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Mt Airy Country Club Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mt Airy, North Carolina

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367864560

Visit website

Mt Airy Country Club Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Mt Airy, North Carolina

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367864560

Visit website

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19197814810

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Kyles Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Kernersville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13364974327

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

1922

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+19849994195

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Burlington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13365840201

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Haw River, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

+18889982546

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Piedmont Wildlife Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19194890900

Visit website

Andy Griffith Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Mt Airy, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

Visit website

Children's Museum of Alamance County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13362287997

Visit website

ICY RICH GIRLS MUSEUM

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Greensboro, North Carolina

Hours: 5–10 pm

+13369474244

Visit website

Graham Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Haw River, North Carolina

+13365706718

Visit website

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Greensboro, North Carolina

+13368529721

Visit website

Lake Crabtree County Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Morrisville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+19194603390

Visit website

Game On Escapes & More - Cary

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 10:30 am–10:30 pm

+19194380798

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 63.6 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
63.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | I 40; US 220

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
83.8 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | US 421 / Salem Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Exit 206 Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
7
90.3 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward NC 74 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 227 Toward NC 74 West
7
102.3 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | NC 74

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward US 52 North: Mount Airy

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.56 one way

$41.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $22.48 $44.97
premium $4.70 $24.34 $48.68
diesel $5.61 $29.03 $58.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.4 0 $13.81 $6.31
Efficient EV 32.9 0 $11.51 $5.26
EV Truck/SUV 52.6 0 $18.41 $8.42

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Cary, NC

Morning in Cary on Tuesday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Toast, NC

Morning in Toast on Tuesday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°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

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

2h 37m 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 mixed driving experience on this route, with a significant portion on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.8 miles on the Dan K. Moore Freeway, indicating substantial highway driving. While 42% of the trip is on highways, the overall profile suggests a blend of faster-paced road and potentially some more varied sections. This means you'll experience periods of consistent speed before potentially encountering different road conditions as you get closer to your destination.

42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on Dan K. Moore Frwy.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 63.6 miles in near I 40.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 131.5 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: at 63.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 2h 37m. Total distance: 131.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on Dan K. Moore Frwy. 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 Toast, 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: at 63.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.8 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Toast, 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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