Origin
Apex, NC
Evening in Apex on Thursday
Local time
8:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apex, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
13m
Distance
6.6 mi
11 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This short 6.6-mile drive from Apex, NC to Cary, NC is a quick trip that will only take you about 13 minutes to complete. Designed as a single-day excursion, you won't need an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a very modest $1, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be navigating local roads, with Old Apex Road, Laura Duncan Road, and West Chatham Street forming the backbone of your route. Given its location within the Southeast region and the state of North Carolina for both origin and destination, expect a familiar local driving experience without any significant regional transitions. This trip is perfect for a quick errand or a short hop between towns.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
This super short 6.6-mile drive is perfect for a quick same-day round trip, taking only about 13 minutes each way. You'll have plenty of time for whatever you planned in Apex or Cary.
Family Friendly
With its short 6.6-mile distance and minimal 13-minute drive time, this route is definitely family-friendly. The turn-heavy nature means you'll want to keep an eye on directions, but it's too short for kids to get bored.
Solo Traveler
At just 6.6 miles and 13 minutes, this route is a breeze for a solo traveler. You can easily do this drive without breaking a sweat, leaving you more time to explore.
EV Driver
This 6.6-mile trip is well within the range of most EVs, so you won't need to worry about finding a charger. With zero EV DC fast chargers listed, it's best to start with a full battery.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire 6.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 3.1 miles on Old Apex Road, offering a brief period of consistent driving before navigating further turns. This route is characterized by frequent intersections and changes in direction, so staying alert and using navigation will be key. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with the local environment rather than cruising on a highway.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Old Apex Road is the longest continuous segment at about 3.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Hunter Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 13m 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 0.2 miles (Hunter Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Laura Duncan Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (Old Apex Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hunter Street
Turn right onto Hunter Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Laura Duncan Road
Turn left onto Laura Duncan Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Old Apex Road
Turn right onto Old Apex Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
West Chatham Street
Enter roundabout onto West Chatham Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
North Academy Street
Turn left onto North Academy Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Apex Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Laura Duncan Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| West Chatham Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Harrison Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hunter Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Salem Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Academy Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Old Apex Road
— 3.1 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Salem Street
2
Turn right onto Hunter Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Hunter Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto Laura Duncan Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Laura Duncan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto Old Apex Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Apex Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto West Chatham Street
139 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Chatham Street
6
Continue on West Chatham Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Chatham Street
7
Turn left onto South Harrison Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Harrison Avenue
8
Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
9
Turn left onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
10
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.03 one way
$2.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.13 | $2.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.22 | $2.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.46 | $2.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.69 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.58 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Evening in Cary on Thursday
Local time
8:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apex, NC to Cary, NC covers 6.6 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Old Apex Road, Laura Duncan Road, West Chatham Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.3 miles from Apex, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 13m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Hunter Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (Laura Duncan Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (Old Apex Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Apex, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cary, NC
More trips to Cary, NC
Explore more options from Apex, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Apex, NC or Cary, NC on MapSof.net.