Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
24.5 mi
39 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Planning a quick trip from Charlotte, NC to Monroe, NC? This 24.5-mile drive typically takes about 33 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate Independence Boulevard and West Roosevelt Boulevard, eventually connecting with US 74. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this is an economical option for a short journey. The route stays within North Carolina's Southeast region. Given its brief duration and lack of designated stops, you can easily complete this drive in a single day, offering flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Boulevard | 10 mi | 13m |
| West Roosevelt Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| US 74 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| East Independence Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Independence Expressway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Skyway Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Tryon Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Monroe, NC.
Start on South Tryon Street
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto East 5th Street
Take the ramp
Continue on US 74; NC 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
Continue on US 74
Continue on US 74
Continue on US 74
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
Continue on US 74
Take the exit
Turn right onto NC 207
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto East 5th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the ramp toward NC 27 East, US 74 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / East Independence Boulevard toward US 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Independence Boulevard toward US 74 East: Indian Trail, Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$3.83 one way
$7.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.53 | $9.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 24.5-mile journey. While 23% of the route involves highway travel, the feel is predominantly that of navigating through local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 10 miles on Independence Boulevard. As you progress, the road will transition between these main arteries and potentially more localized streets, requiring your attention to navigation and traffic signals.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 24.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East 5th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Monroe is a small city in North Carolina. It is in Union County, on U.S. Highway 74. It has a close association with Charlotte, which is about 30 minutes away by car. Monroe's population is slightly under 27,000. It used to be populated mostly by White and African-Americans; however, the city's Hispanic population has spiked dramatically.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 24.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Charlotte, NC or browse trips ending in Monroe, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
