If you are planning a trip from Concord to Jefferson, expect a journey covering 118.9 miles that takes approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete. This route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate local roadways like Cabarrus Avenue West, Church Street Northeast, and Davidson Drive Northwest rather than major interstates. Budgeting about $19 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the duration of the trip. Because the drive is relatively short and direct, you can easily complete it in one day without needing to book an overnight stay along the way.
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
59.5 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I-77 North
47.2 mi
53m
NC 16
25.8 mi
37m
US 421
24.8 mi
30m
Davidson Highway
8.9 mi
13m
Sam Furr Road
6.4 mi
9m
Church Street Northeast
1.8 mi
3m
US 221
0.9 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I-77 North
— 47.2 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Jefferson, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·17 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·37 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto NC 73
1.8 mi·3 min·Church Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NC 73
0.2 mi·27 sec·Davidson Drive Northwest
5
Turn left onto US 29; US 601; NC 73
0.4 mi·35 sec·Concord Parkway North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto NC 73
2.9 mi·4 min·Davidson Highway
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on NC 73
6.1 mi·8 min·Davidson Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NC 73
6.4 mi·9 min·Sam Furr Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 77 North: StatesvilleUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 77
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 77 North
11
Continue on I 77
2.6 mi·3 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
45 mi·50 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 421 North: Wilkesboro, Boone
14
Merge onto US 421
25 mi·30 min·US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto NC 16
19 mi·27 min·NC 16
16
Turn left onto Trading Post Road
217 ft·3 sec·Trading Post Road
17
Continue on J W Luke Road
0.2 mi·17 sec·J W Luke Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto NC 16
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 16
19
At end of road, turn left onto NC 16; NC 88
3.1 mi·4 min·NC 16; NC 88
20
Continue on US 221; NC 88
0.9 mi·2 min·US 221; NC 88
21
Continue on US 221 Business; NC 88
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 221 Business; NC 88
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy, local route, it is best to plan your departure for daylight hours to ensure clear visibility through the winding sections. You should factor in at least one planned stop during your 2-hour and 36-minute journey to stretch your legs and remain alert. Being that you are navigating local roads rather than a highway, pay close attention to your GPS and local signage to stay on track. The flexibility of this short drive allows you to easily adjust your schedule if you need more time for breaks. A helpful tip for this specific trip is to ensure your fuel tank is topped off before leaving Concord, as local roads can lead you away from major service stations.
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 59.5 miles from Concord, NC, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 26 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.5 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 118.9 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 I-77 North for about 47.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 21.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|NC 73 / Davidson Highway
Turn right onto NC 73 / Davidson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
18 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the ramp toward I 77 North: Statesville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
6
21.6 mi into trip|~33m in|I 77; US 21 / I-77 North
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21 / I-77 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.59 one way
$37.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.33
$40.66
premium
$4.70
$22.01
$44.01
diesel
$5.61
$26.25
$52.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.7
0
$12.48
$5.71
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.76
EV Truck/SUV
47.6
0
$16.65
$7.61
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jefferson, NC
Late night
in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
16 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
2h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local streets and secondary roads for the entire 118.9-mile distance. The road profile is technical, requiring you to stay alert as you transition away from the Concord area. Because of the winding nature of these local roads, you should anticipate a slower pace compared to highway travel. You will find that the character of the drive remains consistent throughout, focusing on local navigation rather than high-speed cruising.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on I-77 North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-77 North and NC 16. 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.
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 14 significant decision points across 118.9 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 (Cabarrus Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Church Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (NC 73 / Davidson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Jefferson, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Boone 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 36m. Total distance: 118.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on I-77 North. 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 Jefferson, 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 (Cabarrus Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Church Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (NC 73 / Davidson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jefferson, NC before heading back.
