Origin
Kernersville, NC
Morning in Kernersville on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kernersville, 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
1h 20m
Distance
66.8 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kernersville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 66.8-mile drive from Kernersville, NC to Concord, NC takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it a perfect option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 90% of the journey on interstates and expressways. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, which is quite economical for this distance. This route is a solid choice if you're looking for efficiency and don't need to break up the drive, as there are no recommended overnight stops. Both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, keeping the travel experience consistent.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 19.3 mi | 21m |
| I 40 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 285 | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| Union Cross Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| US 601 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Salisbury Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 28.9 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kernersville, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on West Mountain Street
126 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Mountain Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Salisbury Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
4
Continue on Union Cross Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Union Cross Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem
6
Merge onto I 40
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 40
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 193A
Toward I 285 South, US 52 South: Lexington
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 285; US 52; NC 8
19 mi
·
21 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
10
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 85; US 52
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.4 miles from Kernersville, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 66.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 285 South, US 52 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 193A
Toward I 285 South, US 52 South: Lexington
8
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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...
6
66.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
66.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.45 one way
$20.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.42 | $22.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.36 | $24.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.75 | $29.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.35 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning in Concord on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Lexington, NC
33 mi in
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
20 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
1h 20m 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 highway-focused drive for most of this 66.8-mile trip. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-85 and I-40, with a brief stint on the John Gold Memorial Expressway. With 90% of the route being highway, it's designed for speed and efficiency. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.9 miles on I-85, allowing for sustained travel. This is not a winding scenic route, but rather a direct path connecting two points in North Carolina.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.9 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and John Gold Memorial Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.4 miles (US 601): 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 Kernersville, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Concord Downtown along the way.
Concord Downtown
63.3 mi in
|
~1h 13m
|
via US 601
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 1h 20m. Total distance: 66.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.9 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.
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 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.4 miles (US 601): 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 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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