Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 72-mile drive from Concord, NC to Greensboro, NC takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to break it up into multiple days. You'll primarily be on I-85, making it a highway-focused journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this trip is quite budget-friendly. Both locations are within the Southeast region, so you'll stay within familiar territory. This route offers a simple and efficient way to travel between these two North Carolina cities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 36.6 mi | 39m |
| US 601 | 25.3 mi | 28m |
| Freeman Mill Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| US 29 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Church Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Edgeworth Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Greensboro, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn left onto NC 73
Merge onto US 29; US 601
Take the exit onto US 601
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
Take the exit
Merge onto US 220
Continue on Freeman Mill Road
Turn straight onto Freeman Mill Road
Continue on South Edgeworth Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Concord, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 67.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 601 toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29, US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 220 North: Coliseum Area
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.26 one way
$22.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.31 | $24.62 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.33 | $26.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.90 | $31.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Greensboro on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
56°F
Spencer, NC
36 mi in
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 highly focused highway experience, with 92% of this 72-mile journey taking place on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.6 miles, all on I-85. This means you'll be moving at a consistent pace for a significant portion of the drive. While primarily interstate, you will also use sections of US 601 and Freeman Mill Road closer to your destination. The road's personality is predominantly that of efficient travel, designed for covering distance quickly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 601. 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 Cabarrus Avenue West.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.1 miles (Cabarrus Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Greensboro, NC, road signs begin pointing toward High Point along the way.
High Point
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.
Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Concord, NC or browse trips ending in Greensboro, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
