Concord, NC to Liberty, NC is 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 40m via NC 49, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to manage in a single day. If you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without much fuss, this route fits the bill. You'll be on mainly one highway for the majority of the journey, making navigation simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.1 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 49
41.1 mi
54m
State Highway 49
9.2 mi
13m
Richard K. Pugh Highway
7.1 mi
10m
Corban Avenue Southeast
3.9 mi
6m
NC 73
3.8 mi
5m
West Dixie Drive
3.5 mi
6m
Jordan Road
0.9 mi
2m
South Greensboro Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
NC 49
— 41.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Liberty, 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
41 mi·53 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NC 49
0.2 mi·38 sec·NC 49
8
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·West Dixie Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
7.1 mi·10 min·Richard K. Pugh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 64; NC 49
0.9 mi·2 min·Jordan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto NC 49
9.2 mi·13 min·State Highway 49
12
Turn left onto South Greensboro Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·South Greensboro Street
13
Turn right onto West Swannanoa Avenue
89 ft·3 sec·West Swannanoa Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
West Swannanoa Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 40m duration, this is easily a same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush hour and arrive in Liberty with plenty of afternoon time. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before departing Concord. Pay attention to the transition from NC 49 to State Highway 49 as you approach Liberty; while it's a continuous road, knowing the designation change can be helpful for navigation.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.1 miles from Concord, NC, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.1 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.1 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Liberty, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 70.2 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 49 for about 41.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 70.1 — 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
3
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Continue onto NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
8 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
8.2 mi into trip|~13m in|NC 49
Merge onto NC 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|West Swannanoa Avenue
Turn right onto West Swannanoa Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.98 one way
$21.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.00
$24.01
premium
$4.70
$12.99
$25.99
diesel
$5.61
$15.50
$31.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
Efficient EV
17.6
0
$6.14
$2.81
EV Truck/SUV
28.1
0
$9.83
$4.49
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Liberty, NC
Morning
in Liberty on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Denton, NC
35 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
15 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
1h 40m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 41.1 miles on NC 49, offering a sustained period of consistent travel. The drive is characterized by its predominantly highway feel, meaning you can expect relatively smooth and direct progress for most of the 70.2 miles. While not an interstate, the use of NC 49 and Richard K. Pugh Highway provides a consistent driving experience for the bulk of the 1h 40m duration.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on NC 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 49 and State Highway 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Corban Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Navigation decision 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.
The longest stretch is about 41.1 miles on NC 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Liberty, NC before heading back.
