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Trip from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

162.3 mi

261 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 4m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m

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

Downtown Apex, NC, NC

Apex, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in North Carolina, United States

Belmont, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC covers 162.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.38 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

81.2 miles from Apex, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 162.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Saunders Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC is easy. At 3h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Saunders Street
West Chatham Street
Hunter Street
West Williams Street
US 64 West
Isaac Brooks Highway
I 85
I 85 South

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Saunders Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Salem Street

384 ft · 20 sec · North Salem Street
2

Turn right onto Saunders Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Saunders Street
3

Turn right onto West Chatham Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · West Chatham Street
4

At the end of the road, turn left onto Hunter Street

295 ft · 9 sec · Hunter Street
5

Turn right onto West Williams Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · West Williams Street
6

Take the ramp slight right toward US 64 West

0.2 mi · 35 sec · US 64 West
7

Merge slight left

33 mi · 43 min
8

Take the exit right

0.4 mi · 47 sec
9

Merge slight left onto Isaac Brooks Highway

26 mi · 30 min · Isaac Brooks Highway
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
12

Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop
13

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte

2.4 mi · 2 min · I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte
14

Keep slight left

91 mi · 1 hr 42 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward NC 273: Belmont, Mount Holly

0.3 mi · 43 sec · NC 273: Belmont, Mount Holly
16

Turn left onto Beatty Drive

489 ft · 18 sec · Beatty Drive
17

Continue on Park Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Park Street
18

Turn right onto Catawba Street

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Catawba Street
19

Turn left onto Glenway Street

354 ft · 18 sec · Glenway Street
20

Turn right

121 ft · 9 sec
21

Arrive at your destination

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 81.2 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 38m into the drive.

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 36 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 81.2 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmont, 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 162.3 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 81.2 mi from Apex, NC · 1h 38m into the drive

city in and county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lexington, NC

81 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

Graham, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lexington, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 81.2 miles from Apex, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Belmont, NC

The final approach into Belmont, 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 Belmont, 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

$25.38 one way

$50.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $27.75 $55.50
premium $4.70 $30.04 $60.08
diesel $5.61 $35.83 $71.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.7 0 $17.04 $7.79
Efficient EV 40.6 0 $14.20 $6.49
EV Truck/SUV 64.9 0 $22.72 $10.39

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Apex, NC

Late night in Apex on Thursday

Local time

1:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Belmont, NC

Late night in Belmont on Thursday

Local time

1:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Lexington, NC

81 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 16m 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 Belmont, NC covers 162.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.2 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 $25.38 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.
The drive from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC is easy. At 3h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Apex, NC to Belmont, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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