Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar
Near the start, right off the route
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 12–9 PM
+17047934233
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
204.9 mi
330 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Northchase, NC
R9 Media Photo Collective
Concord, NC to Northchase, NC is 204.9 miles and takes about 4h 18m via Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 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. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. This is a straightforward, single-day trip that doesn't require overnight stays.
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
102.5 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 86.1 mi | 1h 44m |
| American Indian Highway | 33.6 mi | 36m |
| NC 742 | 22.3 mi | 30m |
| G R Kindley Freeway | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| Warren C. Coleman Boulevard | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| NC 24 | 8.6 mi | 13m |
| NC 205 | 4.3 mi | 7m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,330 veh/hr typical · worst 1,629
Quietest
2 AM
~44 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
30.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Northchase, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Continue on NC 73
Turn right onto NC 3
Continue on NC 3
Turn slight left onto US 601; NC 73 Truck
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Turn right onto NC 205
Continue on NC 742
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
Continue on US 74
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
Continue on US 74
Continue on US 74
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
Continue on US 74
Continue on US 74; NC 130
Take the exit
Merge onto I 140
Take the exit
Turn right onto NC 133
Continue on NC 133
Enter roundabout onto US 117; NC 132
Continue on US 117; NC 132
Turn left onto Trademark Drive
Turn right onto Enterprise Drive
Turn right onto North Chase Apartments
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 18m estimated drive time and 204.9 miles, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample time for the drive and any brief stops. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer stretches of highway like the 86.1 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. Budgeting around $34 for fuel should cover the distance.
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.
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 45 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 2h 13m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Northchase, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 204.9 miles and 4h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 102.5 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Andrew Jackson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Concord, North Carolina
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 12–9 PM
+17047934233
Best coffee break
Concord, North Carolina
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm
Mattie Ruth's Coffee House
Concord, North Carolina
The Holy Grind Coffee House of Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Near the start, right off the route
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 12–9 PM
+17047934233
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+17049604013
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Concord, North Carolina
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+17049604163
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Locust, North Carolina
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
+17047815119
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Oakboro, North Carolina
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+17049325282
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Wilmington, North Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Lilesville, North Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Castle Hayne, North Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Evergreen, North Carolina
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Laurinburg, NC
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Whiteville, North Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
Around the midpoint, short detour
Laurinburg, North Carolina
+19499452000
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Hours: Closed
+19102772456
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19105820603
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Locust, North Carolina
+17048885260
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 198.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 East: Lumberton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NC 133: Castle Hayne, Burgaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$30.25 one way
$60.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $33.24 | $66.49 |
| premium | $4.49 | $36.24 | $72.47 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $38.69 | $77.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.51 | $9.84 |
| Efficient EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.93 | $8.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82 | 1 | $28.69 | $13.11 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Concord on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:49PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Morning in Northchase on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:49PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
About 30% of this 204.9-mile route is on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway driving for 86.1 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll experience periods of higher-speed travel interspersed with more local traffic and varying speed limits.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 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.
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 204.9 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
213 ft
Total Descent
862 ft
Highest Point
684 ft
Elevation Range
656 ft
Founded 1796
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 204.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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