Origin
Kannapolis, NC
Evening in Kannapolis on Sunday
Local time
6:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kannapolis, NC to Burlington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
86.3 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kannapolis, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kannapolis, NC to Burlington, NC covers 86.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 85, I 40, South Cannon Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.5 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Kannapolis, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 51.5 mi | 55m |
| I 40 | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| South Cannon Boulevard | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| US 29 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| South Church Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Alamance Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Fairview Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| NC 152 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 51.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kannapolis, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on Cadillac Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Cadillac Street
2
Turn left onto Ford Street
438 ft
·
22 sec
·
Ford Street
3
Turn right onto NC 3
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Fairview Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Fairview Street
5
Turn left onto US 29
6.9 mi
·
11 min
·
South Cannon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; NC 152
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 29; NC 152
7
Enter roundabout onto NC 152
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 152
8
Continue on NC 152
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
NC 152
9
Enter roundabout onto NC 152
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 152
10
Continue on NC 152
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
NC 152
11
Enter roundabout
164 ft
·
2 sec
12
Continue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
13
Merge onto I 85; US 601
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 85; US 601
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 85
Toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29, US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto NC 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Alamance Road
20
Turn slight right onto US 70; NC 62
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Trip Plan
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 43.2 miles from Kannapolis, NC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.5 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 52m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kannapolis, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kannapolis, NC
This is one driving day of about 86.3 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Kannapolis, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 51.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Kannapolis, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ford Street
Turn left onto Ford Street
Navigation decision point
8
27.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
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: Greensboro, High Point
8
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29, US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29, US 70
6
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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.
8
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
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 143
Toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.50 one way
$26.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.76 | $29.51 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.97 | $31.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.05 | $38.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.08 | $5.52 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Burlington, NC
Evening in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
6:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
1h 44m 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?
86.3 mi in 1h 44m, mostly highway — 51.5 mi of that is on I 85.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.5 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.1 miles in near Ford Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (Ford Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kannapolis, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward High Point along the way.
High Point
27.2 mi in
|
~35m
|
via I 85
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 86.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m 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 51.5 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 Burlington, 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 0.1 miles (Ford Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Burlington, 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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