Origin
Elizabeth City, NC
Morning in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
61.6 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Elizabeth City to Concord, this 61.6-mile journey across North Carolina is an efficient trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating any need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region. The route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, utilizing the Cameron Morrison Bridge, the Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway, and the Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway to reach your destination. If you are looking for a quick, practical transit between these two cities, this drive offers a reliable and uncomplicated path.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Morrison Bridge | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Concord Parkway South | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| North Tryon Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 2 mi | 3m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Dixon Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City, NC and Concord, NC.
Start on Crystal Lane
Turn right onto NC 180
Turn left onto US 74 BUS
Turn left onto US 74
Continue on US 74
Continue on US 74
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 85
Continue on I 85
Take the exit
Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road
Turn left onto US 29
Continue on US 29
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Enter roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Continue on Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Elizabeth City, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.4 and 49.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Mallard Creek Church Road East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.63 one way
$19.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.53 | $21.07 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.40 | $22.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.60 | $27.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Concord on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 11% of the trip consisting of highway driving, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 18.4 miles while crossing the Cameron Morrison Bridge, which provides a brief reprieve from the more frequent turns. The overall character of this route is defined by its winding nature, which keeps the experience engaging behind the wheel. Prepare for a road that shifts constantly, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between the various state-named highways.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.4 miles in.
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 61.6 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 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 miles (I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth City, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Charlotte and Mallard Creek Church Road East.
Spartanburg
Charlotte
Mallard Creek Church Road East
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 61.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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