Origin
King, NC
Late night in King on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from King, 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 28m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
King, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 73.8-mile drive from King, NC to Concord, NC will take you approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. Primarily utilizing highways, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip with an estimated fuel cost of $12. You'll remain within the Southeast region throughout your journey, experiencing a consistent driving environment. Given its efficiency and manageable distance, this road trip is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated transit between these two North Carolina locations, requiring no overnight stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 39.5 mi | 45m |
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 601 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 39.5 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between King, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto US 52
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
36 mi
·
41 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
Continue on I 85; US 52
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
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.
9
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from King, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 73.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
8
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.62 | $25.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.66 | $27.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Late night in Concord on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Midway, NC
37 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
4 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 28m 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 experience on this journey, with 94% of your travel occurring on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.5 miles along the John Gold Memorial Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While predominantly highway, the route does incorporate sections of I-85 and Church Street North, providing a mix of high-speed travel and slightly more localized road segments. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering extensive scenic detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.5 mi on John Gold Memorial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway.
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 73.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles (US 601): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.5 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway. 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 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 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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