Origin
Clinton, NC
Morning in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, NC to Charlotte, 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 23m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 55.2 miles, the drive from Clinton to Charlotte is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Since this is a relatively short trip, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip rather than requiring an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly transit across the Southeast. The route primarily utilizes US 601, Jake Alexander Boulevard North, and Point Road to bridge the gap between these two North Carolina locations. Because the trip is short, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure without the stress of long-haul logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 601 | 39.4 mi | 46m |
| Jake Alexander Boulevard North | 6 mi | 9m |
| Point Road | 4.1 mi | 15m |
| North Tryon Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| West Sugar Creek Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Church Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Cherry Hill Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Tryon Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 601
— 39.4 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on Point Road
4.1 mi
·
15 min
·
Point Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherry Hill Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 601
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
US 601
4
Turn right onto US 601
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto US 601
33 mi
·
37 min
·
US 601
Toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 41
Toward Sugar Creek Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sugar Creek Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 29; NC 49
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Tryon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 29; NC 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
10
Continue on US 29; NC 49
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Tryon Street
11
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Clinton, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 51.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Turn right onto US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
17 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 601
Take the exit onto US 601 toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte
7
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Sugar Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward Sugar Creek Road
6
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
West Sugar Creek Road
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 29; NC 49 / North Tryon Street
Turn right onto US 29; NC 49 / North Tryon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.63 one way
$17.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.22 | $20.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Charlotte, NC
Morning in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 6 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
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
35 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
1h 23m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
With 71% of the journey spent on highways, this trip is designed for efficiency rather than winding backroads. You will settle into a rhythm during the longest stretch of 39.4 miles on US 601, which provides the bulk of the driving time. The transition from the more rural feel of the start into the busier corridors near Charlotte gives the route a practical, highway-focused personality. You won't face complex navigation, as the road layout is consistent and keeps you moving steadily toward your destination. Expect a straightforward experience that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B without unnecessary deviations.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 mi on US 601.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 601 and Jake Alexander Boulevard North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in near US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 23m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft
645 ft
Total Climb
350 ft
Total Descent
256 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~19.7 mi in
Elevation Range
133 ft
About the Cities
Arriving 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 23m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on US 601. 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 10.9 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlotte, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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