This 123.3-mile drive from Midland, North Carolina to Cary, North Carolina will take you approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip, and with a fuel cost estimated at $20, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Barberry Avenue and Albemarle Road, with no highway driving involved. This makes it a more relaxed, turn-heavy local experience rather than a fast-paced journey. Both Midland and Cary are located within the Southeast region, so you'll be staying within familiar territory for this particular excursion.
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
61.9 miles from Midland, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 24
50.1 mi
1h 12m
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
18.8 mi
20m
Jefferson Davis Highway
17.3 mi
20m
US 15
10.3 mi
14m
Troy Road
9.2 mi
12m
Albemarle Road
5.7 mi
7m
NC 22
4.2 mi
6m
Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 50.1 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midland, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi·42 sec·Broadway Avenue
2
Turn left onto Barberry Avenue
0.4 mi·55 sec·Barberry Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 601
1.4 mi·1 min·US 601
4
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27
21 mi·31 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
0.4 mi·38 sec·Albemarle Road
6
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
129 ft·1 sec·Albemarle Road
7
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
5.3 mi·6 min·Albemarle Road
8
Continue on NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
9.2 mi·12 min·Troy Road
9
Continue on NC 24; NC 27; NC 109
29 mi·40 min·NC 24; NC 27; NC 109
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
4.2 mi·6 min·NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
11
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
340 ft·7 sec·Monroe Street
12
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
1.4 mi·2 min·Monroe Street
13
Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
10 mi·14 min·US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
14
Turn left onto US 1; US 15; US 501
17 mi·20 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 1
19 mi·20 min·Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
17
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi·6 min·Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 20 minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day trip from Midland to Cary. Plan to depart mid-morning to avoid peak local traffic, especially as you'll be on local roads for the entire 123.3 miles. While there are no designated stops mentioned, use the frequent turns as natural points to take a brief pause, stretch your legs, or grab a quick drink. With a fuel cost around $20, you should have plenty of gas without needing to overthink refueling stops. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the "turn-heavy local drive" profile means staying on track is key.
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 61.9 miles from Midland, NC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
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 Midland, 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 Midland, NC
This is one driving day of about 123.8 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Midland, 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 50.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 123.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Barberry Avenue
Turn left onto Barberry Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|NC 24; NC 27
Turn right onto NC 24; NC 27
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
23.7 mi into trip|~35m in|NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.36 one way
$38.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.17
$42.34
premium
$4.70
$22.91
$45.83
diesel
$5.61
$27.33
$54.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.1
0
$13.00
$5.94
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.83
$4.95
EV Truck/SUV
49.5
0
$17.33
$7.92
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Midland, NC
Afternoon
in Midland on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cary, NC
Afternoon
in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Troy, NC
62 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
2 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
2h 50m 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 "turn-heavy local drive" for the entirety of this 123.3-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter any high-speed interstate stretches. Instead, you'll navigate a series of local roads, including Troy Road, requiring frequent turns and attention to your surroundings. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable here, emphasizing the stop-and-go nature of this type of local transit. This drive is best suited for those who prefer a more engaged driving experience, keeping you aware of your navigation as you make your way across the landscape.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 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 around 0.3 miles in near Barberry Avenue.
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 50m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Barberry Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital, but has developed some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
The longest stretch is about 50.1 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: at 0.3 miles (Barberry Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (NC 24; NC 27): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cary, NC before heading back.
