Origin
Archer Lodge, NC
Evening in Archer Lodge on Thursday
Local time
6:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
36m
Distance
30.9 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Archer Lodge, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This 30.9-mile journey from Archer Lodge to Cary, North Carolina, will take you about 36 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Lake Wendell Road and State Road 2508, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $5, reflecting the short distance. Given its brevity and the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, this route offers a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. It's ideal for a quick transfer or a scenic local exploration rather than requiring an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 30.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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 30.9-mile excursion, with 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, likely with frequent turns and intersections, rather than long stretches of high-speed travel. The absence of a 'longest stretch' indicator suggests the drive is broken up by various road segments and junctions throughout its 36-minute duration. This type of route offers a more intimate feel of the local landscape as you transition from Archer Lodge to Cary.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lake Wendell Road 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 36m 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 Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Wendell Road | — | — |
| State Road 2508 | — | — |
| Bissette Road | — | — |
| Smithfield Road | — | — |
| I 87 South | — | — |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | — | — |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | — | — |
| NC 54 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lake Wendell Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Archer Lodge, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Buffalo Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Buffalo Road
2
Turn left onto Lake Wendell Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Wendell Road
3
Continue on State Road 2508
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Road 2508
4
Continue on Bissette Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bissette Road
5
Turn right onto Smithfield Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Smithfield Road
6
Turn left onto I 87 South, US 64 West, US 264 West: Raleigh
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 87 South, US 64 West, US 264 West: Raleigh
7
Merge slight left
6.6 mi
·
7 min
8
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
9
Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
10
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
11
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
12
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Cary
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
NC 54: Cary
14
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
15
Turn right onto North Academy Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Academy Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.83 one way
$9.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.28 | $10.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.72 | $11.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.24 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
6:43 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
2 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
36m 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 Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC covers 30.9 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lake Wendell Road, State Road 2508, Bissette Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.4 miles from Archer Lodge, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.83 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.
The drive from Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 36m 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 Archer Lodge, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Archer Lodge, 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 Archer Lodge, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Archer Lodge, NC or Cary, NC on MapSof.net.