Mar-Mac, NC to Concord, NC is 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 52m via US 64 and NC 49, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect an 88% highway experience, making it a fairly direct trip. Given its manageable duration and distance, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey. Consider this drive if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
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
86.6 miles from Mar-Mac, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
50.8 mi
1h 10m
NC 49
40.7 mi
53m
Triangle Expressway
21.4 mi
22m
US 70
18.5 mi
25m
US 70 BYP
10.1 mi
12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
9.4 mi
10m
NC 73
7.5 mi
11m
US 13
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 50.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mar-Mac, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on this road
206 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Scott Hill Drive
0.1 mi·26 sec·Scott Hill Drive
3
Turn right onto Old Grantham Road
0.6 mi·59 sec·Old Grantham Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Old Grantham Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Old Grantham Road
5
Continue on Old Mount Olive Highway
427 ft·10 sec·Old Mount Olive Highway
6
Turn left onto US 13; US 117 Connector
4.2 mi·5 min·US 13; US 117 Connector
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
366 ft·11 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 70
1.0 mi·1 min·US 70
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on US 70
5.1 mi·7 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 70
10 mi·14 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
10 mi·12 min·US 70 BYP
14
Continue on I 42
9.4 mi·10 min·Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Exit 318Toward I 40 East, NC 540 Toll West: Wilmington
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll West
17
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
21 mi·22 min·Triangle Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 59A-BToward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 59BToward US 64 West: PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto US 64
51 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64 BUS; NC 49
1.8 mi·2 min·Richard K. Pugh Highway
Toward US 64 Business West, NC 49 South: AsheboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·East Dixie Drive
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn slight right
312 ft·11 sec
25
Turn slight right onto Brookway Road
314 ft·12 sec·Brookway Road
26
Turn sharp left onto Albemarle Road
0.3 mi·23 sec·Albemarle Road
27
Continue on NC 49
9.9 mi·13 min·NC 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on NC 49
31 mi·39 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
30
Turn right onto NC 73
7.5 mi·11 min·NC 73
31
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
32
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
33
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of under 4 hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You could easily depart mid-morning and still arrive well before evening, or even leave after lunch if that suits your schedule. Since it's a single-day journey, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Plan for one primary stop if you wish, perhaps midway, though the drive is short enough that you might not need one. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 50.8-mile stretch on US 64, to ensure you have ample gas before hitting longer stretches.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.6 miles from Mar-Mac, NC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.8 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
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 Mar-Mac, 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 Mar-Mac, NC
This is one driving day of about 173.3 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Mar-Mac, 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 US 64 for about 50.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 118.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
44.4 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East, NC 540 Toll West: Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A-B
Toward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
8
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59B
Toward US 64 West: Pittsboro
8
118.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|US 64 BUS; NC 49 / Richard K. Pugh Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64 BUS; NC 49 / Richard K. Pugh Highway toward US 64 Business West, NC 49 South: Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 64 Business West, NC 49 South: Ashebo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.10 one way
$54.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.63
$59.26
premium
$4.70
$32.07
$64.15
diesel
$5.61
$38.26
$76.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Mar-Mac, NC
Late night
in Mar-Mac on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Graham, NC
87 mi in
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
12 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
3h 52m 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 is a highway-focused drive for the most part, with 88% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 64 and NC 49, as well as the Triangle Expressway. You'll encounter a longest continuous stretch of 50.8 miles on US 64, offering a substantial period of steady travel. The road character will likely shift between efficient highway cruising and sections that might feel more like a main artery through populated areas. Overall, anticipate a driving experience that prioritizes covering distance effectively.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.8 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and NC 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 173.3 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 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Mar-Mac, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Pittsboro along the way.
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 3h 52m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.8 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
