If you are planning a trip from Cary to Windsor, expect a straightforward journey covering 125.7 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 2 hours and 23 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should cover your transit costs across this Southeast region. Because this route is entirely within North Carolina, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is a practical, efficient connection between the two areas, perfect for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.8 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
80 mi
1h 26m
I 87
20 mi
21m
US 13
12 mi
16m
Dan K Moore Freeway
7.1 mi
8m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Chapel Hill Road
2 mi
3m
South Granville Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Granville Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 80 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Windsor, 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
17 mi·18 min·I 87; US 64
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
80 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 64
9
Continue on US 13; US 17
12 mi·16 min·US 13; US 17
10
Turn right onto US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
0.3 mi·28 sec·US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
11
Turn left onto US 13 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·South Granville Street
12
Continue on US 13 BUS; NC 308
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Granville Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Granville Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While no mandatory stops are built into the route, keep in mind that the 80-mile stretch on US 64 is your longest uninterrupted period, so you should plan any breaks before hitting that segment. Because the highway share is so high, stay alert for shifting traffic patterns when merging between I-87 and US 13. Bringing along a small buffer for your $20 fuel budget is always a smart move to account for idling or potential detours. Use the simplicity of the 2-hour-and-23-minute transit time to your advantage by choosing a departure window that avoids peak local traffic.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.8 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 125.7 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cary, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 80 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 32.5 — 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...
4
32.5 mi into trip|~37m in|US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.66 one way
$39.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.49
$42.99
premium
$4.70
$23.26
$46.53
diesel
$5.61
$27.75
$55.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.03
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.04
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Cary, NC
Late night
in Cary on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Windsor, NC
Late night
in Windsor on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
21 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 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 97% of your route occurring on major roads like US 64, I-87, and US 13. You will encounter a highly efficient driving experience rather than a winding backroads tour. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a long, 80-mile stretch on US 64, which dictates the pace of the entire journey. Expect a steady, high-speed flow as you transition between these primary arteries. The personality of the road remains consistent, favoring speed and directness over technical maneuvers or frequent turns.
97% 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: 80 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 87. 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 Effort5/10
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 125.7 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.
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 Windsor, 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
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 125.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 Windsor, NC before heading back.
