Mount Airy to Burlington is 81.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via I-40 and South Andy Griffith Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip that's easy to accomplish in a single day, making it a convenient option for getting between these two locations. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Mount Airy, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
26.7 mi
32m
South Andy Griffith Parkway
23.3 mi
26m
NC 74
13.3 mi
15m
Salem Parkway
11.4 mi
13m
South Main Street
3 mi
5m
South Church Street
1.6 mi
3m
Alamance Road
1.3 mi
2m
West Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 26.7 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Airy, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on West Pine Street
69 ft·4 sec·West Pine Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on South Main Street
2.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto US 52
23 mi·26 min·South Andy Griffith Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
13 mi·15 min·NC 74
Toward NC 74 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 53BToward US 421 South: Greensboro
7
Merge onto US 421; NC 150
11 mi·13 min·Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi·9 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, MartinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi·2 min·I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
17 mi·19 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 143Toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, AlamanceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto NC 62
1.3 mi·2 min·Alamance Road
13
Turn slight right onto US 70; NC 62
1.6 mi·3 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 41 minute duration, this is an easy same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can leave Mount Airy in the morning and arrive in Burlington with plenty of daylight remaining. Since the longest stretch between services is 26.7 miles on I-40, it's advisable to ensure you have at least a half-tank of fuel before starting, especially if you plan to skip rest stops. Plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, though the highway nature of the route generally keeps things moving.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41 miles from Mount Airy, NC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.7 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Airy, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Airy, NC
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Mount Airy, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 26.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.3 and 78.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26.3 mi into trip|~31m in|NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward NC 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 74 East
6
39.6 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 421 South: Greensboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 53B
Toward US 421 South: Greensboro
8
52.1 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
6
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.81 one way
$25.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.00
$28.01
premium
$4.70
$15.16
$30.32
diesel
$5.61
$18.08
$36.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Mount Airy, NC
Late night
in Mount Airy on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burlington, NC
Late night
in Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
20 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
1h 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?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-40 and NC 74. Expect stretches of consistent speed and efficient travel, especially on I-40, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted segment of 26.7 miles. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of South Andy Griffith Parkway and NC 74 may offer slight variations in the driving experience as you approach your destination. Overall, it's designed for quick transit rather than winding scenic exploration.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and South Andy Griffith Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.3 miles in near NC 74.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.3 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Mount Airy, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 81.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Burlington, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 26.3 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, NC before heading back.
