Origin
Matthews, NC
Late night in Matthews on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Matthews, NC to Charlotte, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Matthews, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Charlotte, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 12 miles from Matthews to Charlotte is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 18 minutes. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region of North Carolina, this route functions perfectly as a simple day trip or a routine commute. You can expect to spend roughly $2 on fuel for the entire distance, making it an incredibly budget-friendly excursion. Because the trip is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects a suburban area directly into the heart of the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Independence Expressway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| East Independence Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Sam Newell Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Trade Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Tryon Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West John Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Freemont Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Independence Expressway
— 5.4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matthews, NC and Charlotte, NC.
1
Start on North Freemont Street
13 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Freemont Street
2
Turn left onto West John Street
489 ft
·
24 sec
·
West John Street
3
Turn left onto North Trade Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Trade Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Sam Newell Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sam Newell Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 74
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East Independence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 74
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Independence Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 74; NC 27
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Independence Boulevard
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on East 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
10
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Tryon Street
11
Arrive at destination
South Tryon Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.8 — 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
|
West John Street
Turn left onto West John Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Trade Street
Turn left onto North Trade Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 74 / East Independence Boulevard
Turn left onto US 74 / East Independence Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
10.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Sixth Street, McDowell Street
3
11.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
North Tryon Street
Turn left onto North Tryon Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.05 | $4.10 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.22 | $4.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Charlotte, NC
Late night in Charlotte on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 12-mile trek offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from local streets to more efficient thoroughfares. You will navigate a route that is approximately 45% highway, relying on Sam Newell Road to connect you to East Independence Boulevard and the East Independence Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5.4-mile segment on the East Independence Expressway, which provides the most consistent speed of the trip. Expect the pace to fluctuate as you move off local roads and onto the faster expressway lanes, giving you a balance of suburban navigation and highway driving.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.4 mi on East Independence Expressway.
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 near West John Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 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 (West John Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Trade Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (US 74 / East Independence Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Matthews, NC
Full guide →Matthews is a small town in North Carolina. It is considered a suburb of Charlotte, and is located at the southeastern border of Mecklenburg County.
Arriving in Charlotte, NC
Full guide →“Hornet's Nest” · Founded 1768
Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas. Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
Top landmarks
- • Carowinds — amusement park in North and South Carolina
- • Dilworth — neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
- • Elizabeth — neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
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 18m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.4 miles on East Independence Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (West John Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Trade Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (US 74 / East Independence Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlotte, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Charlotte, NC
More trips to Charlotte, NC
Explore more options from Matthews, NC or browse trips ending in Charlotte, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.