Drexel, NC to Concord, NC is 77 miles and takes about 1 hour 51 minutes via NC 73 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for getting between these locations. Given the short duration and dedicated roads, it’s a practical choice for a single-day journey, allowing ample time for activities at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Drexel, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 73
21.6 mi
33m
I 40
19.3 mi
22m
NC 16
17.3 mi
22m
Thornburg Drive Southeast
2.4 mi
3m
Church Street North
2.2 mi
4m
I 85
2.1 mi
2m
Jacumin Road
1.7 mi
2m
Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NC 73
— 21.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Drexel, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Mimosa Avenue
57 ft·8 sec·Mimosa Avenue
2
Turn left onto NC 114
0.8 mi·2 min·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 70
0.4 mi·43 sec·US 70
4
Turn right onto Messer Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Messer Road
5
Continue on Jacumin Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Jacumin Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Flat Gap Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·Flat Gap Road
7
Continue on Millstone Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·Millstone Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
19 mi·22 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 130Toward Old US 70
11
Turn left onto West 1st Street
1.2 mi·2 min·West 1st Street
12
Turn straight onto US 70
0.6 mi·1 min·Conover Boulevard East
13
Turn right onto NC 16
2.4 mi·3 min·Thornburg Drive Southeast
14
Turn left onto Mt Olive Church Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Mt Olive Church Road
15
Continue on Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Mount Olive Church Road
16
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Bethany Church Road
17
Turn left onto NC 16
17 mi·22 min·NC 16
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, HuntersvilleUse the right lane.
19
Turn right onto NC 73
22 mi·33 min·NC 73
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 85 North: Salisbury
21
Merge onto I 85
2.1 mi·2 min·I 85
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 58Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, DowntownUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto US 29; US 601
0.6 mi·47 sec·Concord Parkway North
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi·4 min·Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Drexel, NC, in the morning will give you a full day in Concord, NC. With a total travel time of under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $12, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You won't need extensive stops, but be aware that the longest uninterrupted stretch is 21.6 miles on NC 73, so plan any brief breaks before or after this section. Given the short distance, you have flexibility in departure time, but an earlier start ensures you maximize your time in Concord.
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 38.5 miles from Drexel, NC, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 53m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Drexel, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Drexel, NC
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Drexel, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 73 for about 21.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.1 and 76.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
49.1 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
6
49.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|NC 73
Turn right onto NC 73
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.17
$26.33
premium
$4.70
$14.25
$28.50
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Drexel, NC
Late night
in Drexel on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily influenced by highway driving, with 80% of the journey utilizing major roads like NC 73 and I-40. You'll experience some continuous stretches, including a segment of 21.6 miles on NC 73. The profile suggests a generally efficient and direct drive, rather than a winding, scenic tour. Expect predominantly highway conditions that facilitate steady progress towards Concord.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 49.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77 miles you will encounter 21 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 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Drexel, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Old Us 70 and Huntersville.
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 51m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). 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: at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 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.
