Traveling from Concord to Buies Creek covers 126.1 miles through the heart of North Carolina. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 53 minutes behind the wheel for this journey, which remains entirely within the Southeast region. Given the manageable timeframe, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $20, it is an economical choice for a quick getaway. You will navigate a variety of local roads rather than high-speed interstates, so plan for a more steady, deliberate pace rather than a quick sprint across the state.
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
63.1 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 49
39 mi
50m
US 421
18 mi
25m
Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
10.7 mi
12m
Isaac Brooks Highway
10.6 mi
13m
Bonlee Bennett Road
7.3 mi
10m
Asheboro Bypass
6.9 mi
7m
Buffalo Ford Road
6.9 mi
9m
Corban Avenue Southeast
3.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
NC 49
— 39 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Buies Creek, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·21 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·24 sec·Corban Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on NC 73
3.9 mi·6 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on NC 73
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 73
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto NC 49
39 mi·50 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 64 East: Siler CityUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 64
6.9 mi·7 min·Asheboro Bypass
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 349Toward NC 42: Asheboro, Sanford
10
Turn right onto NC 42
0.8 mi·1 min·NC 42
11
Continue on Iron Mountain Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Iron Mountain Road
12
Turn right onto Buffalo Ford Road
6.9 mi·9 min·Buffalo Ford Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto Hinshaw Town Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·Hinshaw Town Road
14
Turn right onto NC 22
182 ft·4 sec·NC 22
15
Turn left onto Troy Caveness Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Troy Caveness Road
16
Turn right onto Willie Wright Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Willie Wright Road
17
Turn left onto Lanes Mill Road
2.1 mi·2 min·Lanes Mill Road
18
Continue on Lane Mill Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Lane Mill Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto Bonlee Bennett Road
7.3 mi·10 min·Bonlee Bennett Road
20
Continue on Elmer Moore Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Elmer Moore Road
21
Turn right onto US 421
11 mi·13 min·Isaac Brooks Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 421
0.5 mi·34 sec·Boone Trail Road
23
Continue on US 421
11 mi·12 min·Sanford Bypass (Don Buie Highway)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit onto US 421
18 mi·25 min·US 421
Exit 143AToward US 421 South: LillingtonUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn left onto US 401; US 421; NC 27; NC 210
1.5 mi·3 min·South Main Street
26
Turn right onto US 421; NC 27
3.3 mi·4 min·East Cornelius Harnett Boulevard
27
Take the exit
204 ft·5 sec
28
Continue on Leslie Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·Leslie Campbell Avenue
29
Enter roundabout onto Leslie Campbell Avenue
182 ft·6 sec·Leslie Campbell Avenue
30
Continue on Leslie Campbell Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Leslie Campbell Avenue
31
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
287 ft·8 sec·Main Street
32
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·Main Street
33
Turn right onto Kivett Road
389 ft·15 sec·Kivett Road
34
Turn left
98 ft·12 sec
35
Turn left
115 ft·8 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 53-minute trek, aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on local roads. While the total distance is relatively short, you should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy sections. Keep your gas tank topped off before leaving Concord, as the $20 fuel estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Since you will be navigating local routes rather than major highways, check your GPS frequently to ensure you stay on track with US 64 East. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure time to suit your personal pace.
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 63.1 miles from Concord, NC, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.1 miles or 1h 25m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buies Creek, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Concord, 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 Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 126.1 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Concord, 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 NC 49 for about 39 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 125.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Corban Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
6
47.2 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 64 East: Siler City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 64 East: Siler City
6
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward NC 42: Asheboro, Sanford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 349
Toward NC 42: Asheboro, Sanford
7
102.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421 South: Lillington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143A
Toward US 421 South: Lillington
6
125.5 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.72 one way
$39.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.56
$43.12
premium
$4.70
$23.34
$46.68
diesel
$5.61
$27.84
$55.68
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: 44.1 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
37.8
0
$13.24
$6.05
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.03
$5.04
EV Truck/SUV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
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
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buies Creek, NC
Morning
in Buies Creek on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
24 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 53m 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?
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local road personality. Since the highway share is zero percent, you will be navigating surface streets like Corban Avenue Southwest and Southeast before transitioning to US 64 East. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you should anticipate a drive that requires your full attention. The road environment changes as you transition through local corridors, making the experience feel more like a winding trek than a direct highway haul. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where your focus stays on the road ahead.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on NC 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Corban Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 126.1 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 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Buies Creek, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Sanford along the way.
Concord is a city in North Carolina and fast-growing bedroom community of the major city of Charlotte. In 2020, the population was around 107,000, making it the second largest city of the Charlotte Metro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 126.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on NC 49. 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 Buies Creek, 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 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buies Creek, NC before heading back.
