Concord, NC to Kure Beach, NC is 212.9 miles and takes about 4h 33m via Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region toward the coast. The majority of this route is on surface roads, offering a more local perspective than a pure interstate drive. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable distance, this is a straightforward trip for anyone looking to head east.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.5 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
91 mi
1h 50m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 742
22.3 mi
30m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.9 mi
16m
Warren C. Coleman Boulevard
9.6 mi
11m
NC 24
8.6 mi
13m
US 421 Truck
6.9 mi
12m
Carolina Beach Road
6.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 91 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Kure Beach, 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
0.6 mi·1 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto NC 3
2.3 mi·3 min·Branchview Drive Southeast
5
Continue on NC 3
0.6 mi·51 sec·Union Street South
6
Turn slight left onto US 601; NC 73 Truck
9.6 mi·11 min·Warren C. Coleman Boulevard
7
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
8.6 mi·13 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto NC 205
4.3 mi·7 min·NC 205
9
Continue on NC 742
22 mi·30 min·NC 742
10
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 52; NC 742
11
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·26 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
12
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
13
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi·4 min·West Caswell Street
14
Continue on US 74
10 mi·13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
1.1 mi·1 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
16
Continue on US 74
15 mi·16 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 74
9.7 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
10 mi·10 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on US 74
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
20
Continue on US 74; NC 130
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 17; US 74; US 76
3.1 mi·4 min·Ocean Highway East
22
Continue on US 17; US 76; US 421
0.5 mi·48 sec·Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
23
Take the exit onto US 421 Truck
6.9 mi·12 min·US 421 Truck
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on NC 132
6.1 mi·9 min·Carolina Beach Road
25
Continue on US 421
0.4 mi·48 sec·North Lake Park Boulevard
26
Turn right onto Dow Road North
3.5 mi·4 min·Dow Road North
27
Continue on Avenue K
0.5 mi·1 min·Avenue K
28
Turn right onto US 421
525 ft·12 sec·Fort Fisher Boulevard South
29
Arrive at destination
US 421
Trip Plan
Since this drive is best completed in a single day, aim for an early morning departure from Concord to maximize your daylight hours. The 4-hour 33-minute estimated drive time means you'll have ample opportunity for a brief stop along the way. Given the route's profile, which includes a significant portion on surface roads, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway. The estimated fuel cost of $33 is a good baseline, but it's always wise to top off before you leave or if you see a good price.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.5 miles from Concord, NC, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91 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 47 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kure Beach, 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 212.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 91 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 195.5 — 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
13.3 mi into trip|~17m in|NC 24; NC 27
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 74 East: Lumberton
6
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
195.5 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|US 421 Truck
Take the exit onto US 421 Truck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.82 one way
$67.64 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$36.88
$73.76
premium
$4.78
$40.07
$80.13
diesel
$6.18
$51.79
$103.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.35
$10.22
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.63
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.81
$13.63
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kure Beach, NC
Late night
in Kure Beach on Saturday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
SW 7 to 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Aberdeen, NC
106 mi in
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
7 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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 183.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, making up about 73% of the total mileage. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a local feel with frequent intersections rather than high-speed highway cruising for most of the trip. The shift from highway to surface roads will likely mean slower speeds and more varied driving conditions.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Corban Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 212.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•Barber–Scotia College — historically black college in Concord, North Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 212.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kure Beach, 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Kure Beach, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
