Origin
Atlantic Beach, NC
Morning in Atlantic Beach on Thursday
Local time
10:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
158.6 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlantic Beach, NC
Dominik Gryzbon
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC covers 158.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Kinston Avenue, West Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach Causeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.80 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
79.3 miles from Atlantic Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 158.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 158.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Kinston Avenue 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 Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 2h 49m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Kinston Avenue | — | — |
| West Fort Macon Road | — | — |
| Atlantic Beach Causeway | — | — |
| Atlantic Beach Bridge | — | — |
| South 23rd Street | — | — |
| Arendell Street | — | — |
| West New Bern Road | — | — |
| West Vernon Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Kinston Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlantic Beach, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on West Terminal Boulevard
26 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Terminal Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Kinston Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Kinston Avenue
3
Turn right onto West Fort Macon Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Fort Macon Road
4
Turn left onto Atlantic Beach Causeway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Beach Causeway
5
Continue on Atlantic Beach Bridge
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Beach Bridge
6
Continue on South 23rd Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
South 23rd Street
7
Turn left onto Arendell Street
69 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Arendell Street
8
Continue on West New Bern Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West New Bern Road
9
Keep slight right to continue on West New Bern Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West New Bern Road
10
Continue on West Vernon Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Vernon Avenue
11
Continue straight
9.6 mi
·
11 min
12
Continue on Goldsboro Bypass
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Goldsboro Bypass
13
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
14
Continue straight
10 mi
·
14 min
15
Continue straight
2.0 mi
·
2 min
16
Keep slight left
10 mi
·
12 min
17
Continue on Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
18
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Cary
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
NC 54: Cary
20
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
21
Turn right onto North Academy Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Academy Street
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.3 miles from Atlantic Beach, NC, or about 1h 24m 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 35 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.3 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
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 Atlantic Beach, 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 Atlantic Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 158.6 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Atlantic Beach, 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 79.3 mi from Atlantic Beach, NC · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.3 miles from Atlantic Beach, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cary, NC
The final approach into Cary, 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 Cary, 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
$24.80 one way
$49.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $27.12 | $54.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $29.35 | $58.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.02 | $70.03 |
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: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.65 | $7.61 |
| Efficient EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.88 | $6.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.20 | $10.15 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% 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
Morning in Cary on Thursday
Local time
10:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Farmville, NC
79 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
22 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
2h 49m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC covers 158.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Kinston Avenue, West Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach Causeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.3 miles from Atlantic Beach, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.80 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.
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 Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 2h 49m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Atlantic Beach, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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