Origin
Blowing Rock, NC
Late night in Blowing Rock on Saturday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blowing Rock, NC to Concord, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
98.2 mi
158 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blowing Rock, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Blowing Rock to Concord is 98.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes via Hickory Boulevard Southeast and NC 73, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a fairly straightforward drive, suitable for a single day with no need for overnight stops. You'll experience a mixed drive, so don't expect a constant interstate pace. This route is a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two North Carolina locations without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Blowing Rock, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 98.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 46% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Hickory Boulevard Southeast, Blowing Rock Boulevard, and NC 73. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 23.6 miles on Hickory Boulevard Southeast, so there are some longer segments where you can settle into a steady pace. The road character will shift throughout the approximately 2 hour 27 minute drive, moving between faster-paced highway sections and potentially more local road driving as you approach your destination. Expect a varied driving feel rather than a uniform experience.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hickory Boulevard Southeast is the longest continuous segment at about 23.6 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 70.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 98.2 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 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.7 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
70.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
6
70.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
NC 73
Turn right onto NC 73
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
94.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
95 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Down...
7
98.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Blowing Rock, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Huntersville along the way.
Huntersville
70.4 mi in
|
~1h 43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory Boulevard Southeast | 23.6 mi | 32m |
| NC 73 | 21.6 mi | 33m |
| Blowing Rock Boulevard | 18.5 mi | 28m |
| NC 16 | 17.3 mi | 22m |
| Smyre Farm Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| NC 10 | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| I 85 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Hickory Boulevard Southeast
— 23.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blowing Rock, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on US 221; US 321 Business
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto West Cornish Road
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Cornish Road
3
Turn right onto US 321
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Valley Boulevard
4
Continue on US 321
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lenoir Turnpike
5
Continue on US 321
19 mi
·
28 min
·
Blowing Rock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 321
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Hickory Boulevard Southeast
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NC 10: Newton
8
Turn left onto NC 10
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
NC 10
9
Turn sharp right onto Sigmon Dairy Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sigmon Dairy Road
10
Turn left onto McKay Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
McKay Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 321 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 321 Business
12
Turn right onto Smyre Farm Road
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Smyre Farm Road
13
Turn right onto NC 16
17 mi
·
22 min
·
NC 16
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto NC 73
22 mi
·
33 min
·
NC 73
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 85 North: Salisbury
17
Merge onto I 85
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Downtown
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto US 29; US 601
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Concord Parkway North
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Concord with plenty of afternoon time to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to top off before you leave Blowing Rock. Keep an eye out for changes in speed limits as you transition between different road types, especially on NC 73. Since the longest stretch is under 24 miles, you won't feel rushed, and you can make a brief stop if needed without significantly impacting your arrival time.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.1 miles from Blowing Rock, NC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 22 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blowing Rock, 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 Blowing Rock, NC
This is one driving day of about 98.2 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Blowing Rock, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Hickory Boulevard Southeast for about 23.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.1 mi from Blowing Rock, NC · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.1 miles from Blowing Rock, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Concord, NC
The final approach into Concord, 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 Concord, 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
$15.36 one way
$30.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.79 | $33.58 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.17 | $36.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.68 | $43.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Lenoir Turnpike
(0.8 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.31 | $4.71 |
| Efficient EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.59 | $3.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.75 | $6.28 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Saturday
Local time
5:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Newton, NC
49 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
4 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 27m 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 Blowing Rock, NC to Concord, NC covers 98.2 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hickory Boulevard Southeast, NC 73, Blowing Rock Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.1 miles from Blowing Rock, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.36 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 98.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.7 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Blowing Rock, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Huntersville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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