Origin
Raeford, NC
Morning in Raeford on Sunday
Local time
10:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raeford, 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
1h 48m
Distance
82.3 mi
133 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raeford, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This 82.3-mile drive from Raeford, NC, to Cary, NC, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate along US 1, South Sandhills Boulevard, and Aberdeen Road, with a significant portion of the journey on highway roads. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $13, which is quite budget-friendly. As both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent feel throughout your drive. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two North Carolina locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Raeford, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 41.9 mi | 47m |
| South Sandhills Boulevard | 18 mi | 23m |
| Aberdeen Road | 15.4 mi | 22m |
| Kildaire Farm Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| West Prospect Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Tryon Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Academy Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Poindexter Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 41.9 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raeford, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on West Edinborough Avenue
28 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Edinborough Avenue
2
Turn left onto NC 211
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto NC 211
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Prospect Avenue
4
Continue on NC 211
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Aberdeen Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 211
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Poindexter Street
6
Turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211
18 mi
·
23 min
·
South Sandhills Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
8
Merge onto US 1
42 mi
·
47 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
10
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times for this trip from Raeford to Cary. Leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon should help you avoid the heaviest traffic. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a break if needed, perhaps during that 41.9-mile stretch on US 1. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Cary, and budget approximately $13 for gas. This is a drive where you can easily adjust your schedule on the fly.
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 41.2 miles from Raeford, NC, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 56m 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 29m
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 Raeford, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Raeford, NC
This is one driving day of about 82.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Raeford, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 1 for about 41.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.2 miles from Raeford, 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 81.8 — 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
|
NC 211 / North Main Street
Turn left onto NC 211 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 211 / West Prospect Avenue
Turn left onto NC 211 / West Prospect Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
17.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard
Turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
35.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
81.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.07 | $28.14 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.23 | $30.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.17 | $36.34 |
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: 28.8 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 | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
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.
Destination
Cary, NC
Morning in Cary on Sunday
Local time
10:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Carthage, NC
41 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 51% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.9 miles on US 1, so there are periods of consistent travel. The drive transitions between various road types, including main highways and potentially some local roads as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced travel and more varied scenery as you progress towards Cary.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 NC 211 / North 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 82.3 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 (NC 211 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NC 211 / West Prospect Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 82.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on US 1. 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 (NC 211 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (NC 211 / West Prospect Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211 / South Sandhills Boulevard): 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cary, NC
More from Raeford, NC
More trips to Cary, NC
Explore more options from Raeford, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.