Origin
East Arcadia, NC
Late night in East Arcadia on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Arcadia, NC to Rowan, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
17.1 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Arcadia, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Rowan, NC
Lisa from Pexels
Trip Overview
This short, 17.1-mile drive from East Arcadia to Rowan, North Carolina, is easily manageable in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be navigating NC 210 and General Howe before merging onto NC 87. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $3, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Southeast region. Considering its brevity, there's no need to split this drive into multiple days; you can complete it comfortably in a single outing. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied but generally easy-going experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 210 | 7 mi | 11m |
| General Howe | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| NC 87 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| East Arcadia Road | 1.3 mi | 4m |
| NC 53 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Ma Lonie Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NC 210
— 7 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Arcadia, NC and Rowan, NC.
1
Start on Ma Lonie Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ma Lonie Road
2
Turn right onto East Arcadia Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Arcadia Road
3
Continue on East Arcadia Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Arcadia Road
4
Continue on East Arcadia Road
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Arcadia Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto NC 87
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
NC 87
6
Turn left onto NC 11
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
General Howe
7
Turn left onto NC 210
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 210
8
Continue on NC 53; NC 210
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
NC 53; NC 210
9
Turn right onto NC 210
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
NC 210
10
Arrive at destination
NC 210
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 13.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Arcadia Road
Turn right onto East Arcadia Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
NC 87
At end of road, turn right onto NC 87
Navigation decision point
4
3.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
NC 11 / General Howe
Turn left onto NC 11 / General Howe
Navigation decision point
4
9.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
NC 210
Turn left onto NC 210
Navigation decision point
4
13.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
NC 210
Turn right onto NC 210
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.67 one way
$5.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.92 | $5.85 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.16 | $6.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Rowan, NC
Late night in Rowan on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
3 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
28m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 56% of it taking place on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is approximately 7 miles along NC 210, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition between NC 210, General Howe, and NC 87, the road character will likely shift, providing a bit of variety without becoming overly complex. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise, nor is it a winding country lane; it's a blend that keeps the driving experience engaging for its short duration.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7 mi on NC 210.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Arcadia Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Arcadia Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (NC 87): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (NC 11 / General Howe): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 17.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7 miles on NC 210. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (East Arcadia Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (NC 87): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (NC 11 / General Howe): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rowan, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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