Origin
Denver, NC
Morning in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
9:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, NC to Concord, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
34.3 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Denver to Concord, you are looking at a straightforward 34.3-mile trip that typically takes about 53 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You will primarily navigate via NC 73, NC 16, and Church Street North as you transition through the Southeast region of North Carolina. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire journey. It is a highly efficient drive for anyone needing to bridge these two areas without the hassle of a long-haul commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 73 | 21.6 mi | 33m |
| NC 16 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| I 85 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Saint James Church Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NC 73
— 21.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on this road
127 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto NC 16 BUS
358 ft
·
12 sec
·
NC 16 BUS
3
Turn right onto Saint James Church Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint James Church Road
4
Take the ramp onto Saint James Church Road
167 ft
·
5 sec
·
Saint James Church Road
5
Turn right onto NC 16
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
NC 16
6
Take the exit
191 ft
·
12 sec
7
Turn left onto NC 16
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
NC 16
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto NC 73
22 mi
·
33 min
·
NC 73
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 85 North: Salisbury
11
Merge onto I 85
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Downtown
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto US 29; US 601
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Concord Parkway North
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Denver, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 16 BUS
At end of road, turn right onto NC 16 BUS
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
8
30.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Down...
7
34.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.36 one way
$10.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.86 | $11.73 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.57 | $15.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
9:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major roads. The drive moves at a steady pace, highlighted by a significant 21.6-mile stretch along NC 73 that serves as the backbone of your travel. While the route is functional and direct, the character shifts from the initial highway segments into the more localized flow of Church Street North as you approach your destination. You will find this to be a consistent, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding detours. It is an ideal path for those who prefer keeping their eyes on the road and reaching their goal without unnecessary complexity.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on NC 73.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 73 and NC 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 16 BUS.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 34.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 16 BUS): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
900 ft
632 ft
Total Climb
210 ft
Total Descent
426 ft
Highest Point
900 ft
Elevation Range
268 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Denver, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Huntersville and Downtown.
Huntersville
6.5 mi in
|
~9m
Downtown
30.7 mi in
|
~46m
About the Cities
Arriving in Concord, NC
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 34.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on NC 73. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Concord, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (NC 16 BUS): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Concord, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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