Hoopers Creek, NC to Concord, NC is 131.1 miles and takes about 2h 45m via Andrew Jackson Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and a more local feel rather than a straight shot on major interstates. Given its relatively short duration, it's a manageable journey for most drivers.
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
65.6 miles from Hoopers Creek, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
23.6 mi
28m
Cameron Morrison Bridge
18.4 mi
22m
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
18.2 mi
19m
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:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 23.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoopers Creek, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Hoopers Creek Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Hoopers Creek Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Mills Gap Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Mills Gap Road
3
Turn left onto Cane Creek Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cane Creek Road
4
Turn left onto US 25
2.2 mi·3 min·Hendersonville Road
5
Continue on US 25
0.6 mi·57 sec·Asheville Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
7
Merge onto I 26; US 25; US 74; US 64 Truck
9.8 mi·11 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26; US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
9
Take the exit onto US 74
0.3 mi·18 sec·Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
Exit 67Toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, RutherfordtonUse the slight right lane.
10
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
11
Continue on US 74
18 mi·19 min·Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
12
Continue on US 74
15 mi·17 min·James A. Callahan Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 74
12 mi·17 min·West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi·2 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
15
Continue on US 74
6.8 mi·7 min·Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·55 sec
Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 85
18 mi·21 min·Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 85
18 mi·22 min·Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 46AToward Mallard Creek Church Road EastUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road
0.9 mi·1 min·West Mallard Creek Church Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto US 29
2.2 mi·3 min·North Tryon Street
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 29
6.7 mi·9 min·Concord Parkway South
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
1.0 mi·1 min·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the right lane.
25
Enter roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West
156 ft·3 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
26
Continue on Cabarrus Avenue West
0.9 mi·2 min·Cabarrus Avenue West
27
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just under 3 hours and a fuel cost estimated at $21, this trip is best tackled in a single day. You could leave Hoopers Creek in the morning and arrive in Concord by lunchtime. Since the drive is relatively short and involves many turns, plan for potential minor delays and keep your navigation system handy. The longest stretch without significant turns is over 23 miles, so take advantage of that segment to refuel if needed, as opportunities might be more frequent in the 'turn-heavy' sections.
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 65.6 miles from Hoopers Creek, NC, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 12m
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 Hoopers Creek, 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 Hoopers Creek, NC
This is one driving day of about 131.1 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Hoopers Creek, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 23.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 118.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Mills Gap Road
At end of road, turn left onto Mills Gap Road
Navigation decision point
8
27.4 mi into trip|~36m 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...
7
27.7 mi into trip|~36m 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
8
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
7
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
$20.50 one way
$41.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.42
$44.83
premium
$4.70
$24.26
$48.53
diesel
$5.61
$28.95
$57.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.3
0
$13.77
$6.29
Efficient EV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
EV Truck/SUV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Hoopers Creek, NC
Morning
in Hoopers Creek on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
10 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 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll be navigating a variety of roads rather than sticking to a single highway. With only a 5% highway share, most of your journey will be on local and state roads, including Andrew Jackson Highway, Cameron Morrison Bridge, and Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 23.6 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. This type of drive often means you'll pass through more towns and varied landscapes.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
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 0.5 miles in near Mills Gap Road.
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 17 significant decision points across 131.1 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 0.5 miles (Mills Gap Road): Navigation decision point; at 27.4 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 27.7 miles (US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hoopers Creek, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Rutherfordton, Spartanburg, Charlotte and Mallard Creek Church Road East.
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 2h 45m. Total distance: 131.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. 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. 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 0.5 miles (Mills Gap Road): Navigation decision point; at 27.4 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 27.7 miles (US 74 / Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
