Origin
Pine Level, NC
Late night in Pine Level on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pine Level, NC to Cary, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
42.9 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pine Level, NC
Lauri Poldre
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This 42.9-mile drive from Pine Level, NC, to Cary, NC, is a straightforward trip designed for a single day. Expect to spend about 52 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $7. The route primarily utilizes major highways, making it a quick and efficient journey through the Southeast region of North Carolina. With no recommended stops, you can easily complete this drive in a single outing without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 18.3 mi | 20m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 10 mi | 11m |
| US 70 | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Selma Pine Level Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Crocker Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Anderson Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 18.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine Level, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on North Peedin Avenue
66 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Peedin Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on Selma Pine Level Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Selma Pine Level Road
4
Continue on East Anderson Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Anderson Street
5
Turn left onto Crocker Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Crocker Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto Ricks Road
140 ft
·
3 sec
·
Ricks Road
7
Take the ramp
194 ft
·
5 sec
8
Merge onto US 70
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
US 70
9
Continue on I 42
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
10
Merge onto I 40
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Pine Level, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.9 — 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 Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
22.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
40.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 54: Cary
5
40.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
42.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
North Academy Street
Turn right onto North Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.71 one way
$13.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.34 | $14.67 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.94 | $15.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.50 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Cary, NC
Late night in Cary on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
2 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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 63% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the 18.3-mile segment on I-40, which forms the longest uninterrupted part of your trip. The Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway and US-70 also contribute to the highway feel. Expect a consistent pace for most of the 52-minute duration, with the character of the road remaining fairly uniform as you transition between these main arteries.
63% 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: 18.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.9 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 42.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on I 40. 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 Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cary, 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.
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