This 196.5-mile drive from Enfield to Concord, North Carolina, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. You'll navigate using roads like Glenview Road and US 64 West, with no highway driving involved, suggesting a more local experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $31. Given its relatively short duration and direct path through the Southeast region, it's a straightforward option for a one-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.9 miles from Enfield, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 85
102.6 mi
1h 53m
US 64
33.6 mi
35m
Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi
16m
I 95
14.4 mi
15m
South Miami Boulevard
9.3 mi
12m
I 40
7.7 mi
9m
US 29
5.4 mi
5m
NC 481
4.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Enfield, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on NC 481 Business
0.3 mi·47 sec·Whitfield Street
2
Turn straight onto NC 481 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·Glenview Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto NC 481
4.3 mi·6 min·NC 481
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
5
Merge onto I 95
14 mi·15 min·I 95
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 138Toward US 64: Nashville, Rocky Mount, Raleigh
7
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward US 64 West: Nashville, Raleigh
8
Merge onto US 64
34 mi·35 min·US 64
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
10
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft·7 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
11
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Rolesville Road
12
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Marks Creek Road
13
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi·43 sec·Horton Road
14
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
16
Merge onto I 540
15 mi·16 min·Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 70 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·New Raleigh Highway
20
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi·12 min·South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
42 mi·48 min·I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi·5 min·US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: CharlotteUse the left lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit onto US 601
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 601
Exit 58Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
0.8 mi·1 min·US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord DowntownUse the left lane.
27
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi·4 min·Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
This 196.5-mile drive is well-suited for a single day, so you have the advantage of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since there are no designated long stretches that would necessitate a specific stopping point. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, plan your fuel stops accordingly, perhaps topping off before you leave Enfield to ensure you have a full tank. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll want to stay alert and focused on navigation, especially on roads like US 64 West.
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 105.9 miles from Enfield, NC, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
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 Enfield, 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 Enfield, NC
This is one driving day of about 211.7 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Enfield, 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 I 85 for about 102.6 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 55.5 and 211.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
8
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
8
208.2 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|US 601
Take the exit onto US 601 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
208.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|US 601
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 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 left lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downt...
7
211.7 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.11 one way
$66.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$36.20
$72.39
premium
$4.70
$39.18
$78.36
diesel
$5.61
$46.74
$93.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.47
EV Truck/SUV
84.7
1
$29.64
$13.55
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Enfield, NC
Late night
in Enfield on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
2:04 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
2 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than an interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets and two-lane roads for the entire 196.5 miles. The absence of any long, uninterrupted stretches means you'll be actively steering and navigating throughout the 3-hour and 25-minute journey. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be constantly engaged with the road and the surrounding local landscape.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.6 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 211.7 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 55.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 142.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.2 miles (US 601): 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 Enfield, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Rocky Mount and Raleigh.
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 4h 8m. Total distance: 211.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.6 miles on I 85. 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 55.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 142.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.2 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
