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Trip from Elizabethtown, NC to Rowan, NC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

44m

Distance

30.7 mi

49 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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human settlement in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States of America

Elizabethtown, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rowan, NC, NC

Rowan, NC

Lisa from Pexels

Trip Overview

This 30.7-mile drive from Elizabethtown, NC to Rowan, NC, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 44 minutes, making it perfect for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it's a budget-friendly option for a short journey. The route primarily utilizes NC 53 and NC 210, offering a straightforward travel experience. As both the origin and destination are within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you won't encounter significant regional shifts. This short distance means you have plenty of flexibility for when you want to depart and how you manage your time on the road.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NC 53 21.4 mi 29m
North Poplar Street 5.3 mi 7m
NC 210 3.9 mi 6m
Longest stretch: NC 53 — 21.4 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown, NC and Rowan, NC.

1

Start on US 701; NC 41

5.3 mi · 7 min · North Poplar Street
2

Turn right onto NC 53

21 mi · 29 min · NC 53
3

Turn left onto NC 210

3.9 mi · 6 min · NC 210
4

Arrive at destination

NC 210

Heads-up: tricky spots

2 of 2

2 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 26.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
5.3 mi into trip | ~7m in | NC 53

Turn right onto NC 53

Navigation decision point

3
26.7 mi into trip | ~37m in | NC 210

Turn left onto NC 210

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.53 one way

$9.06 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.12 $4.98 $9.96
premium $4.49 $5.43 $10.86
diesel $4.80 $5.80 $11.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.2 0 $3.22 $1.47
Efficient EV 7.7 0 $2.69 $1.23
EV Truck/SUV 12.3 0 $4.30 $1.96

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 Jul 13, 2026

Origin

Elizabethtown, NC

Morning in Elizabethtown on Sunday

Local time

11:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

E 0 to 6 mph 72% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 12 at 7:52PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 12 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Destination

Rowan, NC

Morning in Rowan on Sunday

Local time

11:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

E 0 to 3 mph 72% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 12 at 7:52PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 12 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

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

1 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

44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 83% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the longest uninterrupted segment of 21.4 miles on NC 53, which should provide a consistent pace. The route involves NC 53, North Poplar Street, and NC 210, suggesting a mix of main highway travel and potentially some more local arterial roads as you approach your destination. Expect a drive characterized by efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
4 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.4 mi on NC 53.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 53 and North Poplar Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near NC 53.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Elizabethtown, NC to Rowan, NC is easy. At 44m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (NC 53): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (NC 210): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

109 ft 23 ft

Total Climb

34 ft

Total Descent

94 ft

Highest Point

109 ft

Elevation Range

87 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Elizabethtown, NC

Full guide →

Elizabethtown is the seat of Bladen County on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. It's a good place for the nature-lover or outdoor enthusiast.

Arriving in Rowan, NC

Full guide →

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 44m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.4 miles on NC 53. 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 5.3 miles (NC 53): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (NC 210): 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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