Trip from Apex, NC to Waxhaw, NC

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

3h 10m

Distance

143.4 mi

231 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 59m ★

6 AM

3h 10m

8 AM

3h 34m

10 AM

3h 18m

12 PM

3h 16m

3 PM

3h 20m

5 PM

3h 32m

8 PM

3h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Apex, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Waxhaw, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Apex, NC to Waxhaw, NC covers 143.4 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 1, Jefferson Davis Highway, Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.4 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

71.7 miles from Apex, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Apex, NC to Waxhaw, NC covers 143.4 miles and takes about 3h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NC 55 / East Williams Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 143.4 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 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | NC 55 / East Williams Street

Turn left onto NC 55 / East Williams Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

1.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 1 South: Sanford

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 1 South: Sanford

41.2 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 1

Merge onto US 1

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

85.5 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto US 74 BUS / Broad Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

122.6 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | US 74

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 toward US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 273 Toward US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe

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 Apex, NC to Waxhaw, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.

Monroe

122.6 mi in | ~2h 36m | via US 74

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 1	43.4 mi	52m
Jefferson Davis Highway	23 mi	27m
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway	15.7 mi	16m
Broad Avenue	15.5 mi	20m
W. Cliff Martin Highway	12.8 mi	17m
Waxhaw Highway	10.3 mi	15m
US 74	6.7 mi	10m
Carroll M. Edwards Highway	2.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: US 1 — 43.4 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Waxhaw, NC.

Start on North Salem Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Salem Street

Turn left onto NC 55

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Williams Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 1 South: Sanford Use the right lane.

Merge onto US 1

16 mi · 16 min · Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

Continue on US 1

23 mi · 27 min · Jefferson Davis Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 46 sec

Merge onto US 1

43 mi · 52 min · US 1

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto East Green Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Green Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 74 BUS

16 mi · 20 min · Broad Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 74

2.4 mi · 4 min · East Caswell Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742

0.7 mi · 1 min · Salisbury Street

Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742

6.5 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

6.3 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

Continue on US 74

2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

Continue on US 74

2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 74

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

6.7 mi · 10 min · US 74

Exit 273 Toward US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto Franklin Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Franklin Street

Continue on East Jefferson Street

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East Jefferson Street

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn left onto North Charlotte Avenue

264 ft · 8 sec · North Charlotte Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto West Franklin Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Franklin Street

Continue on Waxhaw Highway

3.7 mi · 5 min · Waxhaw Highway

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto NC 75

69 ft · 1 sec · Waxhaw Highway

Continue on NC 75

6.6 mi · 9 min · Waxhaw Highway

Continue on NC 75

0.5 mi · 42 sec · East South Main Street

Arrive at destination

NC 75

Trip Plan

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 71.7 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 71.7 miles or 1h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waxhaw, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Apex, 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 Apex, NC

This is one driving day of about 143.4 miles and 3h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Apex, 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 US 1 for about 43.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.7 mi from Apex, NC · 1h 26m into the drive

city in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fayetteville, NC

72 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

Fayetteville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fayetteville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.7 miles from Apex, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waxhaw, NC

The final approach into Waxhaw, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Waxhaw, NC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.42 one way

$44.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$24.52	$49.04
premium	$4.70	$26.54	$53.08
diesel	$5.61	$31.66	$63.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43	$15.06	$6.88
Efficient EV	35.9	$12.55	$5.74
EV Truck/SUV	57.4	$20.08	$9.18

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Apex, NC

Evening in Apex on Tuesday

Local time

6:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waxhaw, NC

Evening in Waxhaw on Tuesday

Local time

6:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

2 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

3h 10m 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 Waxhaw, NC covers 143.4 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 1, Jefferson Davis Highway, Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71.7 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 $22.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.