Origin
Four Oaks, NC
Morning in Four Oaks on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Four Oaks, NC to Cary, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Four Oaks, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This straightforward 40.4-mile drive from Four Oaks, NC, to Cary, NC, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 51 minutes. The journey is primarily highway-focused, with about 74% of the route utilizing interstates, making it a quick and efficient trip. Budget around $6 for fuel, which is quite reasonable for this short distance. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of North Carolina, experiencing a direct connection between two familiar points. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 27.6 mi | 30m |
| Lassiter Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Black Creek Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| NC 210 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Hatcher Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Baker Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Wellons Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 27.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Four Oaks, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on US 301
328 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Wellons Street
2
Turn right onto North Baker Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Baker Street
3
Turn left onto East Hatcher Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hatcher Street
4
Continue on Black Creek Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Creek Road
5
Turn left onto Lassiter Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Lassiter Road
6
Turn left onto NC 210
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 210
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 40
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 40
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
22 mi
·
25 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Four Oaks, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 40.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
37.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 54: Cary
5
38.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
40.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
North Academy Street
Turn right onto North Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.48 | $14.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Cary, NC
Morning in Cary on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
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
51m 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 drive that is predominantly highway-oriented, with 74% of the 40.4 miles on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the main roads include I-40, Lassiter Road, and Black Creek Road, the overall profile leans heavily towards interstate travel. This means you'll experience a more direct, less varied driving experience, prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Lassiter Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 40.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cary, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cary, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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