Traveling from Morehead City to Concord covers 272.3 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 48 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays entirely within North Carolina, you’ll experience a transition from the Southeast coast toward the interior of the state. It is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, though you should budget approximately $44 for fuel costs. You will navigate primarily through local roads like North 18th Street, Arendell Street, and West New Bern Road rather than major interstates. Keep in mind that this is a turn-heavy route, so expect a more hands-on driving experience than a typical highway cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.9 miles from Morehead City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arendell Street
69.2 mi
1h 26m
US 64
50.8 mi
1h 10m
NC 49
40.7 mi
53m
US 70
23.2 mi
29m
Triangle Expressway
21.4 mi
22m
Goldsboro Bypass
20.2 mi
21m
US 70 BYP
10.1 mi
12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
9.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Arendell Street
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morehead City, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on this road
247 ft·23 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto North 18th Street
123 ft·6 sec·North 18th Street
3
Turn right onto US 70
69 mi·1 hr 26 min·Arendell Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 70; US 258
1.1 mi·1 min·West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258
2.1 mi·3 min·West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 70; US 258
1.6 mi·2 min·West Vernon Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 70
9.6 mi·11 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 42
20 mi·21 min·Goldsboro Bypass
9
Continue on US 70
1.2 mi·1 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 70
10 mi·14 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·US 70
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
10 mi·12 min·US 70 BYP
13
Continue on I 42
9.4 mi·10 min·Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Exit 318Toward I 40 East, NC 540 Toll West: Wilmington
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll West
16
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
21 mi·22 min·Triangle Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 59A-BToward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 59BToward US 64 West: PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto US 64
51 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
21
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.
22
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·East Dixie Drive
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn slight right
312 ft·11 sec
24
Turn slight right onto Brookway Road
314 ft·12 sec·Brookway Road
25
Turn sharp left onto Albemarle Road
0.3 mi·23 sec·Albemarle Road
26
Continue on NC 49
9.9 mi·13 min·NC 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on NC 49
31 mi·39 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
29
Turn right onto NC 73
7.5 mi·11 min·NC 73
30
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
31
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
32
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, plan to leave early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating local turns. You should account for at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and break up the nearly five-hour duration. Because your fuel budget is estimated at $44, it is wise to top off your tank before departing Morehead City to avoid searching for stations along smaller roads. Given the lack of high-speed highway stretches, your travel time may fluctuate based on local traffic conditions, so build in a bit of extra cushion to your schedule. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a reliable GPS running, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads requires constant navigation updates.
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 132.9 miles from Morehead City, NC, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.2 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 58 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.9 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
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 Morehead City, 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 Morehead City, NC
This is one driving day of about 265.8 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Morehead City, 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 Arendell Street for about 69.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 211.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 18th Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 18th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / Arendell Street
Turn right onto US 70 / Arendell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
160.2 mi into trip|~3h 14m 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
211.3 mi into trip|~4h 25m 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
$41.57 one way
$83.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$45.45
$90.90
premium
$4.70
$49.19
$98.39
diesel
$5.61
$58.69
$117.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.91
$12.76
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.26
$10.63
EV Truck/SUV
106.3
1
$37.21
$17.01
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Morehead City, NC
Morning
in Morehead City on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
1 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
5h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 highly engaging, turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be dealing with the monotony of high-speed interstate travel; instead, you will navigate local thoroughfares that offer a more grounded perspective of the region. The route requires frequent steering adjustments as you move through various local road segments. This drive is best suited for those who prefer backroads over the predictable pace of a major highway. Be prepared for a steady, rhythmic pace that keeps you actively connected to the road for the duration of the trip.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 mi on Arendell Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 18th Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 265.8 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: near the start (North 18th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
684 ft16 ft
Total Climb
806 ft
Total Descent
138 ft
Highest Point
684 ft
~265.8 mi in
Elevation Range
668 ft
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 Morehead City, 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 5h 42m. Total distance: 265.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.2 miles on Arendell Street. 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: near the start (North 18th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (US 70 / Arendell Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Concord, NC before the return drive.
