Origin
Rural Hall, NC
Late night in Rural Hall on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rural Hall, NC to Concord, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
69.4 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rural Hall, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Rural Hall to Concord, expect a straightforward journey covering 69.4 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. The route primarily utilizes the John Gold Memorial Expressway, University Parkway, and I-85 to navigate through the Southeast region. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel should cover your transit costs for this direct connection. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short getaway, the simplicity of this path allows for a stress-free experience without the need for complex multi-day planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 32.8 mi | 38m |
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| University Parkway | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Broad Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| US 601 | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Hanes Mill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 32.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rural Hall, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on NC 65
107 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bethania Rural Hall Road
2
Turn right onto NC 66
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on NC 66
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto West Hanes Mill Road
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Hanes Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
6
Merge onto US 52
33 mi
·
38 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 85; US 52
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 601
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 601
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Use the left lane.
11
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Rural Hall, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 69.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Hanes Mill Road
Turn right onto West Hanes Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
65.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 601
Take the exit onto US 601 toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
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 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
66.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 601
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downt...
6
69.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.85 one way
$21.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.87 | $23.73 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.84 | $25.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.32 | $30.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.07 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.72 | $4.44 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Lexington, NC
35 mi in
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 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 23m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.8 miles along the John Gold Memorial Expressway. Because the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like I-85, the experience is efficient rather than scenic. Transitioning between these arteries requires minimal navigation, keeping the focus squarely on maintaining pace. Expect a consistent, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads or technical turns.
94% 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: 32.8 mi on John Gold Memorial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near West Hanes Mill Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.7 miles (West Hanes Mill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.9 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (US 601): 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.
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 Rural Hall, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Concord Downtown along the way.
Concord Downtown
65.9 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 601
About the Cities
Arriving in Concord, NC
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 69.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.8 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway. 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 Concord, 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 3.7 miles (West Hanes Mill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.9 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (US 601): 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 Concord, 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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