Trip from Hendersonville, NC to Concord, NC

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

Drive Time

2h 33m

Distance

122 mi

196 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 23m ★

6 AM

2h 33m

8 AM

2h 54m

10 AM

2h 40m

12 PM

2h 38m

3 PM

2h 42m

5 PM

2h 53m

8 PM

2h 27m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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county seat of Henderson County, North Carolina, United States

Hendersonville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Concord, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Hendersonville, NC to Concord, NC is 122 miles and takes about 2h 33m via Cameron Morrison Bridge, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and North Carolina, offering a straightforward drive. With a low highway share, expect a route that primarily uses surface roads, making it a good option for a relaxed, single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost is quite manageable, making this an economical choice for getting from point A to point B.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

61 miles from Hendersonville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Cameron Morrison Bridge	18.4 mi	22m
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway	18.2 mi	19m
Andrew Jackson Highway	17.9 mi	21m
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway	17.6 mi	21m
James A. Callahan Highway	15.2 mi	17m
West Dixon Boulevard	12.4 mi	17m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway	6.8 mi	7m
Concord Parkway South	6.7 mi	9m

Longest stretch: Cameron Morrison Bridge — 18.4 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, NC and Concord, NC.

Start on US 64

0.2 mi · 40 sec · 6th Avenue West

Continue on US 64

1.0 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

Continue on US 64

0.7 mi · 1 min · Four Seasons Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 26, US 74, US 25

Merge onto I 26; US 74; US 25

4.1 mi · 4 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26; US 74

12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

Take the exit onto US 74

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

Exit 67 Toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74

0.2 mi · 10 sec · Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

Toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton

Continue on US 74

18 mi · 19 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

Continue on US 74

15 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway

Take the exit onto US 74

12 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 74

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

Continue on US 74

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 7 sec

Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 55 sec

Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 85

18 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 85

18 mi · 22 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 46A Toward Mallard Creek Church Road East Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Mallard Creek Church Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 29

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Tryon Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 29

6.7 mi · 9 min · Concord Parkway South

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cabarrus Avenue West

Use the right lane.

Enter roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West

156 ft · 3 sec · Cabarrus Avenue West

Continue on Cabarrus Avenue West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Cabarrus Avenue West

Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest

409 ft · 11 sec · Spring Street Southwest

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

Spring Street Southwest

Trip Plan

Given the 2.5-hour estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one suggested stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $19 estimated cost is based on current conditions and the 122-mile distance. A good tip for this route is to be mindful of the frequent changes in speed limits as you move from highway segments to surface roads.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Hendersonville, NC, or about 1h 13m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 27 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61 miles or 1h 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 1m

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 Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, NC

This is one driving day of about 122 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Hendersonville, 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 Cameron Morrison Bridge for about 18.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

human settlement in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kings Mountain, NC

61 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

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 104.6

Charlotte, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+17045953344

Visit website

French Quarter Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 104.6

Charlotte, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17043771715

Visit website

Press & Porter Coffee & Pourhouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 122

Concord, North Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18286939708

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 104.6

Charlotte, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17046544400

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 109.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

18.3 mi into trip | ~23m in | US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

Take the exit onto US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 67 Toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherford...

18.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 74 East: Forest City, Rutherfordton

51.8 mi into trip | ~1h in | US 74 / West Dixon Boulevard

Take the exit onto US 74 / West Dixon Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

73 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

109.8 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward Mallard Creek Church Road East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46A Toward Mallard Creek Church Road East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.08 one way

$38.16 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$20.86	$41.72
premium	$4.70	$22.58	$45.16
diesel	$5.61	$26.94	$53.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.6	$12.81	$5.86
Efficient EV	30.5	$10.67	$4.88
EV Truck/SUV	48.8	$17.08	$7.81

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Hendersonville, NC

Morning in Hendersonville on Sunday

Local time

6:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, NC

Morning in Concord on Sunday

Local time

6:15 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

3 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

2h 33m 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?

This 122-mile route is mostly surface roads, with just 6% on highways. You'll spend the bulk of your time navigating local streets and avenues. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 18.4 miles on Cameron Morrison Bridge. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potential traffic as you transition between different road types.

Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 18.4 mi on Cameron Morrison Bridge.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in near US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 15 significant decision points across 122 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 18.3 miles (US 74 / Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles (US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles (US 74 / West Dixon Boulevard): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Hendersonville, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Rutherfordton, Spartanburg, Charlotte and Mallard Creek Church Road East.

Rutherfordton

18.3 mi in | ~23m | via US 74

Spartanburg

72.9 mi in | ~1h 28m

Charlotte

73 mi in | ~1h 29m

Mallard Creek Church Road East

109.8 mi in | ~2h 13m

About the Cities

Arriving in Concord, NC

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 122 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.4 miles on Cameron Morrison Bridge. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Concord, 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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Return Trip

Concord, NC to Hendersonville, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

124.1 mi 2h 34m

Explore more options from Hendersonville, NC or browse trips ending in Concord, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.

Trip from Hendersonville, NC to Concord, NC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor & Coffee Shop

Press & Porter Coffee & Pourhouse

Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor & Coffee Shop

French Quarter Restaurant

Press & Porter Coffee & Pourhouse

Mattie Ruth's Coffee House

The Holy Grind Coffee House of Concord

CROWN STATION Coffee House & Pub

Summit Coffee On the Plaza

Verb Coffee

Coffee & Cream

Canal Coffee Company

1036

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Rest Area

I-26 East NC Welcome Center

Service Plaza

Visit Hendersonville

The Speedpark at Concord Mills

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord

Ray’s Splash Planet

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hendersonville, NC

Concord, NC

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 33m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Concord, NC

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Concord, NC

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