Origin
Charlotte, NC
Late night in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlotte, NC to Hickory, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Hickory, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 51.5-mile drive from Charlotte, NC, to Hickory, NC, is a straightforward, one-day trip that takes approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical option for a quick excursion within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with only a small portion on highways, suggesting a more connected, neighborhood-style journey. Considering its short duration and lack of designated overnight stops, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for a flexible schedule. You'll find the drive is designed for ease, making it ideal for those looking for a simple, direct route.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brookshire Boulevard | 33.5 mi | 43m |
| Conover Boulevard East | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Tate Boulevard | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Brookshire Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| NC 16 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Mount Olive Church Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue Southeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bethany Church Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Brookshire Boulevard
— 33.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Hickory, NC.
1
Start on South Tryon Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tryon Street
2
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 10th Street
3
Turn right
202 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto US 29; NC 49
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Graham Street
5
Turn right onto West 12th Street
368 ft
·
7 sec
·
West 12th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 277 Outer North
7
Merge onto I 277; NC 16
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Brookshire Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on NC 16
34 mi
·
43 min
·
Brookshire Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bethany Church Road
10
Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Olive Church Road
11
Continue on Mt Olive Church Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Mt Olive Church Road
12
Turn right onto NC 16
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 16
13
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Conover Boulevard East
14
Continue on Tate Boulevard
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tate Boulevard
15
Continue on 1st Avenue Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue Southeast
16
Turn right onto 3rd Street Southwest
347 ft
·
15 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
17
Continue on 3rd Street Northwest
415 ft
·
20 sec
·
3rd Street Northwest
18
Turn right onto Trade Alley
338 ft
·
29 sec
·
Trade Alley
19
Turn left
153 ft
·
11 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Charlotte, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 51.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West 10th Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 29; NC 49 / North Graham Street
Turn right onto US 29; NC 49 / North Graham Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West 12th Street
Turn right onto West 12th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 277; NC 16 / Brookshire Freeway
Merge onto I 277; NC 16 / Brookshire Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
51.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Trade Alley
Turn right onto Trade Alley
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.05 one way
$16.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.81 | $17.61 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.53 | $19.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.37 | $22.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Hickory, NC
Late night in Hickory on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Denver, NC
26 mi in
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
5 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
1h 13m 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 for the majority of this 51.5-mile journey, as indicated by the minimal 10% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.5 miles along Brookshire Boulevard, offering a sustained period on a single road before transitions. While the route is predominantly local, it's not necessarily slow; it's more about navigating through various city and town sections. The main roads you'll follow include Brookshire Boulevard, Conover Boulevard East, and Tate Boulevard, each contributing to the character of a connected, community-focused drive rather than a high-speed transit.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.5 mi on Brookshire Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West 10th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 13m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 29; NC 49 / North Graham Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (West 12th Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Charlotte, NC
Full guide →Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas. Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
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 1h 13m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (10%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.5 miles on Brookshire Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.5 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 29; NC 49 / North Graham Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (West 12th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hickory, 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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