This 117.5-mile drive from Locust, NC to Cary, NC is a feasible one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. You'll navigate primarily on NC 24 and the Claude E. E. Pope Memorial Highway, with a portion on Jefferson Davis Highway. Given its relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, making it an economical journey. Both your origin and destination are within North Carolina's Southeast region, offering a consistent regional experience throughout your drive.
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
58.7 miles from Locust, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 24
28.7 mi
40m
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
18.8 mi
20m
Jefferson Davis Highway
17.3 mi
20m
East Main Street
16.9 mi
24m
US 15
10.3 mi
14m
Troy Road
9.2 mi
12m
Albemarle Road
5.7 mi
7m
NC 22
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 28.7 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Locust, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on this road
58 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left
200 ft·20 sec
3
Turn left
173 ft·17 sec
4
Turn left onto NC 200
309 ft·7 sec·South Central Avenue
5
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27
17 mi·24 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
0.4 mi·38 sec·Albemarle Road
7
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
129 ft·1 sec·Albemarle Road
8
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
5.3 mi·6 min·Albemarle Road
9
Continue on NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
9.2 mi·12 min·Troy Road
10
Continue on NC 24; NC 27; NC 109
29 mi·40 min·NC 24; NC 27; NC 109
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
4.2 mi·6 min·NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
12
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
340 ft·7 sec·Monroe Street
13
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
1.4 mi·2 min·Monroe Street
14
Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
10 mi·14 min·US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
15
Turn left onto US 1; US 15; US 501
17 mi·20 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 1
19 mi·20 min·Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
18
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi·6 min·Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
For this straightforward, 2-hour and 41-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Cary without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; you can decide when and where to take a break based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $18, and plan your stop accordingly. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the 28.7-mile stretch on NC 24, as this will be your longest continuous segment and a good opportunity to settle in for a solid period of driving.
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 58.7 miles from Locust, NC, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.7 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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 miles or 1h 23m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cary, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Locust, 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 Locust, NC
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Locust, 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 NC 24 for about 28.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.37 one way
$36.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.09
$40.18
premium
$4.70
$21.75
$43.49
diesel
$5.61
$25.94
$51.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Locust, NC
Morning
in Locust on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cary, NC
Morning
in Cary on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
2h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 37% of the journey on highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 28.7 miles on NC 24, offering a sustained period of consistent travel. The road's character will likely shift between faster highway sections and potentially more varied local road conditions as you progress. This blend means you'll experience different driving dynamics, from open stretches to potentially more winding or built-up areas. The overall profile suggests a drive that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on NC 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 24; NC 27 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cary, NC before heading back.
