Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
35.8 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC
Michael Ken
Concord, NC to Lake Norman of Catawba, NC is 35.8 miles and takes about 55 minutes via I-77 North, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically North Carolina, offering a straightforward drive. It's a local journey that should feel familiar, with a good portion of the drive on main highways. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-77 North | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Davidson Highway | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| River Highway | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| Sam Furr Road | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Church Street Northeast | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 77 North | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Kiser Island Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Lake Norman of Catawba, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn left onto NC 73
Turn left onto NC 73
Turn left onto US 29; US 601; NC 73
Turn right onto NC 73
Continue on NC 73
Continue on NC 73
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 77
Continue on I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto NC 150
Turn left onto Kiser Island Road
Turn left onto Riverwood Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.9 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 28.6 — 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
Turn left onto NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 77 North: Statesville
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NC 150: Mooresville, Lincolnton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NC 150 West: Lake Norman Airport, Lincolnton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.12 | $12.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.63 | $13.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Sunday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Lake Norman of Catawba on Sunday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of 29%. While you'll spend some time on I-77 North, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 9.3 miles, indicating frequent changes in direction and road type. Expect to navigate Davidson Highway and River Highway, which likely means navigating local traffic and intersections more than extended highway cruising. The profile suggests a route where you'll be actively steering and adjusting your speed more often than on a pure interstate journey.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 35.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
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 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Lake Norman of Catawba, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Lincolnton along the way.
Lincolnton
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 35.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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