Origin
Hillsborough, NC
Late night in Hillsborough on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsborough, 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 8m
Distance
110.7 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hillsborough to Concord is 110.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via I 85, I 40, and US 29, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a practical, highway-focused journey perfect for a quick trip or as part of a larger itinerary. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover this distance. Plan for a smooth, uncomplicated drive that gets you where you need to go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.4 miles from Hillsborough, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 92.7 mi | 1h 42m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| US 29 | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Churton Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| US 601 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 92.7 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on West King Street
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
West King Street
2
Turn right onto US 70 Business; NC 86
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Churton Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 85; NC 86 Truck
32 mi
·
37 min
·
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
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: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 601
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 601
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Use the left lane.
10
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 8 minutes, this is a very flexible drive. You can easily complete it in a single day, leaving whenever is convenient. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, keeping your tank topped off should be manageable throughout the trip. Since it's primarily highway driving on I 85, I 40, and US 29, be prepared for consistent traffic, especially as you approach urban areas. A good tip is to check real-time traffic conditions before you depart to ensure the smoothest possible transit on these major arteries.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.4 miles from Hillsborough, NC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.7 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.4 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Hillsborough, 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 Hillsborough, NC
This is one driving day of about 110.7 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Hillsborough, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 92.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.4 miles from Hillsborough, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.7 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 110.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
8
41.6 mi into trip
|
~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
107.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 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
107.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 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
110.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.31 one way
$34.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.93 | $37.86 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.49 | $40.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.44 | $48.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.50 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Sunday
Local time
3:51 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
6 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 8m 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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 85, I 40, and US 29. You'll experience a significant stretch of 92.7 miles on I 85 without interruption, indicating long, consistent highway conditions. Expect a predominantly fast-paced drive, with minimal diversions from the interstate system. The character of the drive is largely defined by its efficient, direct nature, prioritizing speed and ease of travel over scenic detours.
96% 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: 92.7 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 110.7 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 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.2 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Hillsborough, NC
Full guide →Hillsborough is an incredibly historic town in North Carolina, important to the history of the state. Easily accessible from nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, it has a cute historic downtown and a "small town" feel.
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 8m. Total distance: 110.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.7 miles on I 85. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.6 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.2 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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