Spanning 126 miles across North Carolina, this trip from Windsor to Cary is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 23 minutes. Because it is a compact drive, you can easily complete the entire route in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those looking to travel between the Southeast regions of the state. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to power through or pull over as your personal schedule dictates. This highway-focused trip is ideal for travelers who prioritize speed and efficiency over winding, secondary roads.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63 miles from Windsor, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 13
70.7 mi
1h 20m
US 64 Bypass
38.9 mi
41m
Dan K Moore Freeway
5.8 mi
6m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
4.3 mi
4m
I 87
2.7 mi
3m
Chapel Hill Road
2.2 mi
3m
US 13 BUS
0.8 mi
1m
US 17
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 13
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on East Granville Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Granville Street
2
Continue on US 13 BUS; NC 308
0.8 mi·1 min·US 13 BUS; NC 308
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
0.3 mi·25 sec·US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
4
Turn left onto US 13; US 17
14 mi·19 min·US 13; US 17
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 13; US 64
6
Continue on US 64 Bypass
39 mi·41 min·US 64 Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.7 mi·3 min·I 87; I 440; US 64
8
Merge onto I 40; US 64
3.2 mi·3 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 40; US 64
2.7 mi·3 min·Dan K Moore Freeway
10
Continue on I 40; US 64
1.1 mi·1 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
11
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.1 mi·3 min·Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward NC 54: CaryUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi·3 min·Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft·0 sec·North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 23 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid potential congestion near your destination. Since the longest stretch covers 70.7 miles on US 13, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before hitting the highway to avoid unnecessary deviations. You will find that the lack of required stops allows you to set your own pace, but do not hesitate to pull over if you need a quick break to stay alert. Budgeting $20 for gas should keep you well-covered for the full 126-mile trip. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from US 64 onto the Dan K Moore Freeway to ensure a smooth arrival in Cary.
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 63 miles from Windsor, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63 miles or 1h 12m 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 56m
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 Windsor, 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 Windsor, NC
This is one driving day of about 126 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Windsor, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 13 for about 70.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 126 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
At end of road, turn right onto US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
Navigation decision point
5
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
126 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|North Academy Street
Turn right onto North Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.70 one way
$39.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.54
$43.09
premium
$4.70
$23.32
$46.64
diesel
$5.61
$27.82
$55.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
EV Truck/SUV
50.4
0
$17.64
$8.06
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Windsor, NC
Late night
in Windsor on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cary, NC
Late night
in Cary on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:51PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 14 at 3:50AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
49°F
Sharpsburg, NC
63 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
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
2h 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 focused, highway-heavy experience, as 98% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating US 13, US 64 Bypass, and the Dan K Moore Freeway. The most significant portion of your drive is a 70.7-mile stretch on US 13, which requires sustained attention behind the wheel. As you transition from the eastern part of the state toward Cary, the road character remains consistent and predictable. This is a practical, no-nonsense route designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on US 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 13 and US 64 Bypass. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK): Navigation decision point; at 113.4 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.6 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 2h 23m. Total distance: 126 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on US 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK): Navigation decision point; at 113.4 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.6 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.
