Concord, NC to Rockingham, NC is 68.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via NC 742 and Andrew Jackson Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, same-day trip stays within the Southeast region, moving between North Carolina towns. Given its relatively brief duration and manageable cost, this route is ideal for a quick transition or a focused journey without extensive travel time. You'll find the drive is a mix of road types, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.3 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 742
22.3 mi
30m
Andrew Jackson Highway
10.2 mi
13m
Warren C. Coleman Boulevard
9.6 mi
11m
NC 24
8.6 mi
13m
US 74 BUS
5.3 mi
7m
NC 205
4.3 mi
7m
West Caswell Street
2.4 mi
4m
Branchview Drive Southeast
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
NC 742
— 22.3 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Rockingham, 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 right at fork onto US 74 BUS
5.3 mi·7 min·US 74 BUS
Exit 306Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, AsheboroUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto West Green Street
0.6 mi·49 sec·West Green Street
17
Turn right onto North Hancock Street
462 ft·24 sec·North Hancock Street
18
Turn right onto West Washington Street
79 ft·2 sec·West Washington Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is less than two hours and won't break the bank at an estimated $11 for fuel, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving in the late morning to avoid any early rush hour traffic in Concord. With only one day recommended, you can easily complete this drive without needing overnight accommodations. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant turnoffs is 22.3 miles on NC 742, so it's wise to fuel up before you depart Concord if your tank is low.
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 34.3 miles from Concord, NC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.3 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.3 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockingham, 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 68.6 miles and 1h 38m.
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 742 for about 22.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 68.6 — 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.
4
48.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Turn left onto US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway
Navigation decision point
9
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 74 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 BUS toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business Ea...
4
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|West Washington Street
Turn right onto West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.73 one way
$21.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.73
$23.46
premium
$4.70
$12.70
$25.39
diesel
$5.61
$15.15
$30.29
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 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.6
0
$7.20
$3.29
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.00
$2.74
EV Truck/SUV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 19, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Sunny
NNW 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 19 at 1:27PM EDT until April 19 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:27PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Destination
Rockingham, NC
Late night
in Rockingham on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 to 15 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 19 at 1:27PM EDT until April 19 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:27PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m 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 drive offers a mixed experience, with about 60% of the journey utilizing highway segments. You'll encounter stretches like NC 742, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted drive of 22.3 miles, giving you a chance to settle in. The route blends faster highway sections with more local road travel, including portions of Andrew Jackson Highway and Warren C. Coleman Boulevard. Expect a varied pace as you navigate through different types of thoroughfares on your way.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.3 mi on NC 742.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 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 Effort5/10
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 68.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 48.9 miles (US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway): Navigation decision point.
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 Rockingham, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheboro 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 1h 38m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.3 miles on NC 742. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 13.3 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.9 miles (US 52; US 74; NC 742 / W. Cliff Martin Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rockingham, NC before heading back.
