This 135.8-mile drive from Dunn to Concord, North Carolina, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. You'll primarily navigate along NC 49 and local roads like West Front Street and Isaac Brooks Highway, with about 39% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, this route offers a straightforward connection within the Southeast region. It’s a practical option if you're looking for an efficient drive without needing to break it up overnight. The overall feel is a mixed drive, blending different road types.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.9 miles from Dunn, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 49
39.2 mi
51m
West Front Street
17.3 mi
24m
Isaac Brooks Highway
10.6 mi
13m
Sanford Bypass
10.4 mi
11m
East Jackson Boulevard
7.6 mi
11m
NC 73
7.5 mi
11m
Asheboro Bypass
7.3 mi
8m
Bonlee Bennett Road
7.3 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
NC 49
— 39.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunn, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on US 421; NC 55
2.2 mi·4 min·East Cumberland Street
2
Continue on US 421; NC 55
7.6 mi·11 min·East Jackson Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 421; NC 27
4.4 mi·6 min·US 421; NC 27
4
Turn left onto US 401; US 421; NC 27; NC 210
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 421 TRK
0.5 mi·1 min·South 10th Street
6
Turn right onto US 421
17 mi·24 min·West Front Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp onto US 421
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 421
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 421; NC 87 BYP
10 mi·11 min·Sanford Bypass
9
Continue on US 421
0.4 mi·28 sec·Boone Trail Road
10
Continue on US 421
11 mi·13 min·Isaac Brooks Highway
11
Turn left onto Elmer Moore Road
1.8 mi·2 min·Elmer Moore Road
12
Continue on Bonlee Bennett Road
7.3 mi·10 min·Bonlee Bennett Road
13
Turn right onto Lane Mill Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Lane Mill Road
14
Continue on Lanes Mill Road
2.1 mi·2 min·Lanes Mill Road
15
Turn right onto Willie Wright Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Willie Wright Road
16
Turn left onto Troy Caveness Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Troy Caveness Road
17
Turn right onto NC 22
182 ft·9 sec·NC 22
18
Turn left onto Hinshaw Town Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·Hinshaw Town Road
19
Turn right onto Buffalo Ford Road
0.7 mi·57 sec·Buffalo Ford Road
20
Keep slight right at fork onto Buffalo Ford Road
6.2 mi·8 min·Buffalo Ford Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto Iron Mountain Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Iron Mountain Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto NC 42
1.0 mi·1 min·NC 42
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Use the left lane.
24
Merge onto US 64
7.3 mi·8 min·Asheboro Bypass
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 341Toward NC 49: CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
26
Turn slight right
291 ft·10 sec
Toward NC 49 South: Charlotte
27
Merge onto NC 49
8.3 mi·11 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on NC 49
31 mi·39 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
30
Turn right onto NC 73
7.5 mi·11 min·NC 73
31
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
32
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
33
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving Dunn in the morning allows you to reach Concord with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll have one main stretch of 39.2 miles on NC 49, so consider a brief stop before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, it's a budget-friendly trip. The flexibility of a single-day drive means you can adjust your departure time based on traffic. Pay attention as you transition between highway and local road sections, as this is where road speeds and conditions change most noticeably.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.9 miles from Dunn, NC, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 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 30 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.9 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Dunn, 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 Dunn, NC
This is one driving day of about 135.8 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Dunn, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NC 49 for about 39.2 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.8 and 88.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.8 mi into trip|~25m in|US 421 / West Front Street
Turn right onto US 421 / West Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
33.1 mi into trip|~49m in|US 421
Take the ramp onto US 421
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|NC 42
At end of road, turn right onto NC 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
88.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward NC 49: Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 341
Toward NC 49: Charlotte
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.24 one way
$42.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.22
$46.44
premium
$4.70
$25.13
$50.27
diesel
$5.61
$29.98
$59.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.7
0
$14.26
$6.52
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.88
$5.43
EV Truck/SUV
54.3
0
$19.01
$8.69
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
Dunn, NC
Morning
in Dunn on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Carthage, NC
68 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
34 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
3h 8m 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?
Your drive from Dunn to Concord presents a mixed driving experience. While 39% of the route involves highway travel, you'll also encounter stretches on secondary roads. The longest continuous segment you'll navigate is 39.2 miles on NC 49, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between quicker highway sections and more localized routes. This blend means you’ll experience different driving dynamics throughout the 3-hour journey.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.2 mi on NC 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.8 miles in near US 421 / West Front Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 135.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.8 miles (US 421 / West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles (NC 42): Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 8m. Total distance: 135.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.2 miles on NC 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.8 miles (US 421 / West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles (US 421): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles (NC 42): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
