Traveling from Richlands to Concord spans 218.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 43 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays within the Southeast region of North Carolina, it is manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $35 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route is highway-focused, you will find the pace relatively steady throughout the day. While it is certainly doable in one go, you might consider how the 1-stop recommendation fits into your schedule to keep your energy levels up. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two areas, offering a practical way to traverse the state.
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
109.4 miles from Richlands, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 24
59.8 mi
1h 4m
US 64
50.8 mi
1h 10m
NC 49
40.7 mi
53m
Beulaville Highway
20.8 mi
29m
Triangle Expressway
19.5 mi
20m
NC 73
7.5 mi
11m
South Kenansville Bypass
5.8 mi
8m
East Dixie Drive
3.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on South Wilmington Street
189 ft·10 sec·South Wilmington Street
2
Turn right onto West Franck Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West Franck Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 258; NC 24
2.2 mi·3 min·Richlands Highway
4
Continue on US 258; NC 24
21 mi·29 min·Beulaville Highway
5
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
5.8 mi·8 min·South Kenansville Bypass
6
Take the exit onto NC 24
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·NC 24
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·23 sec
Toward NC 42: Fuquay-Varina
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Cleveland Rd
9
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.6 mi·2 min·Cleveland Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 1010
1.1 mi·1 min·Cleveland School Road
11
Turn right onto NC 50
0.5 mi·56 sec·Benson Road
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward NC 540 Toll West: ApexUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
19 mi·20 min·Triangle Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 59A-BToward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 59BToward US 64 West: PittsboroUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 64
51 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
18
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.
19
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·East Dixie Drive
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn slight right
312 ft·11 sec
21
Turn slight right onto Brookway Road
314 ft·12 sec·Brookway Road
22
Turn sharp left onto Albemarle Road
0.3 mi·23 sec·Albemarle Road
23
Continue on NC 49
9.9 mi·13 min·NC 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on NC 49
31 mi·39 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
26
Turn right onto NC 73
7.5 mi·11 min·NC 73
27
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
28
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
29
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 218.9-mile trip, try to leave early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near your destination. Since the drive takes just under five hours, plan for at least one substantial stop to stretch your legs and refuel; this is included in your $35 estimated fuel budget. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when navigating the longer 59.8-mile stretches, as service stations may be more spaced out than you are used to. Because this is a one-day trip, the primary advantage is your flexibility, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive. Use your single planned stop strategically to break up the monotony of the highway segments.
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 109.4 miles from Richlands, NC, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.4 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
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 Richlands, 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 Richlands, NC
This is one driving day of about 218.9 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Richlands, 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 59.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.2 and 164.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.2 mi into trip|~42m in|NC 24
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
92.9 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the ramp toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll West: Apex
6
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A-B
Toward US 64: Apex, Pittsboro
8
113.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
164.4 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
$34.23 one way
$68.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.43
$74.86
premium
$4.70
$40.51
$81.03
diesel
$5.61
$48.33
$96.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$22.98
$10.51
Efficient EV
54.7
0
$19.15
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.65
$14.01
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Richlands, NC
Late night
in Richlands on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Sunday
Local time
2:02 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
3 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
4h 43m 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 drive defined by its highway-focused nature, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate via NC 24, US 64, and NC 49, which provide a consistent rhythm for the majority of your travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 59.8-mile stretch on NC 24, allowing you to settle into a comfortable pace once you get moving. Transitions between these primary roads keep the route from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind, balancing efficient transit with the character of state-level highways. By staying alert through these shifts, you can effectively manage the transition from the coast toward the Concord area.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in near NC 24.
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 18 significant decision points across 218.9 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: at 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 112.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Richlands, 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 4h 43m. Total distance: 218.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on NC 24. 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: at 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 112.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
