Origin
Salisbury, NC
Late night in Salisbury on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salisbury, NC to Burlington, 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 24m
Distance
71.2 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salisbury, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Salisbury, NC to Burlington, NC is 71.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via I-85, I-40, and US-29, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a quick connection between these two central NC cities. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 36.6 mi | 39m |
| I 40 | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| US 29 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| South Church Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Alamance Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Innes Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 36.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salisbury, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on West Innes Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Innes Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
7.1 mi
·
7 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 85
Toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 29
Toward US 29, US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto NC 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Alamance Road
9
Turn slight right onto US 70; NC 62
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Salisbury, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68 — 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 Innes Street
Depart onto West Innes Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
8
44.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29, US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 29, US 70
6
50.8 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
$11.13 one way
$22.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.17 | $24.35 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.72 | $31.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.97 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Jamestown, NC
36 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
15 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 24m 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 84% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-85 and I-40. Expect a fairly consistent pace for much of the 1 hour and 24 minute journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.6 miles on I-85, offering a good opportunity to settle in. While primarily interstate, you'll also navigate segments of US-29, which might offer a slightly different feel before merging back onto the faster highway system. The overall character is efficient and direct, minimizing time spent on slower roads.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.6 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Innes Street.
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 71.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 Innes Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (US 29): 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 Salisbury, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward High Point along the way.
High Point
12.1 mi in
|
~16m
|
via I 85
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.6 miles on I 85. 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: near the start (West Innes Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (US 29): 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.
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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