Trip from Brices Creek, NC to Cary, NC

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

127.8 mi

206 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 26m ★

6 AM

2h 37m

8 AM

2h 57m

10 AM

2h 44m

12 PM

2h 42m

3 PM

2h 45m

5 PM

2h 56m

8 PM

2h 30m

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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Brices Creek, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Cary, NC

C k

Trip Overview

Spanning 127.8 miles, this journey from Brices Creek to Cary takes approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, it is best suited for a single-day trip. You should budget roughly $20 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Given the duration and the nature of the roads, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward trip that moves you from the coastal-adjacent area of Brices Creek into the central region of North Carolina. Keep in mind that this is a localized transit experience rather than a major interstate trek, making it ideal if you prefer avoiding heavy highway traffic.

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

63.9 miles from Brices Creek, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, relying entirely on local roads like Brices Creek Road, Madame Moores Lane, and Howell Road. The character of the drive is defined by its turn-heavy nature, requiring your full attention as you navigate through the local infrastructure. Because you are traveling on secondary roads, the drive feels more personal and connected to the landscape than a standard interstate commute. You will find that the pace remains consistent since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed travel. Navigating these specific local passages provides a distinct contrast to the monotony of major freeways, keeping you engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the 127.8-mile journey.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

497 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

599 ft

Total Descent

128 ft

Highest Point

497 ft

~127.8 mi in

Elevation Range

497 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and Goldsboro Bypass. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near Howell Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 127.8 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 4.1 miles (Howell Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles (US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4.1 mi into trip | ~10m in | Howell Road

At end of road, turn left onto Howell Road

Navigation decision point

4.7 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | US 70

Merge onto US 70

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

Use the none lane.

40 mi into trip | ~51m in | US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

125.4 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in

Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward NC 54: Cary

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 70	58.2 mi	1h 8m
Goldsboro Bypass	20.2 mi	21m
I 40	18.3 mi	20m
US 70 BYP	10.1 mi	12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway	10 mi	11m
Brices Creek Road	2.5 mi	6m
Chapel Hill Road	2.2 mi	3m
West New Bern Road	2.1 mi	3m

Longest stretch: US 70 — 58.2 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brices Creek, NC and Cary, NC.

Start on Perrytown Loop Road

170 ft · 9 sec · Perrytown Loop Road

Turn right onto Brices Creek Road

2.5 mi · 6 min · Brices Creek Road

Continue on Madame Moores Lane

1.6 mi · 3 min · Madame Moores Lane

At end of road, turn left onto Howell Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Howell Road

Take the ramp

269 ft · 6 sec

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Merge onto US 70

35 mi · 39 min · US 70

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258

2.1 mi · 3 min · West New Bern Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 70; US 258

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Vernon Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 70

9.6 mi · 11 min · US 70

Use the straight lane.

Continue on I 42

20 mi · 21 min · Goldsboro Bypass

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 70

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 70

10 mi · 14 min · US 70

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 70

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 70

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP

10 mi · 12 min · US 70 BYP

Continue on I 42

10.0 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

Merge onto I 40

18 mi · 20 min · I 40

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward NC 54: Cary Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto NC 54

2.2 mi · 3 min · Chapel Hill Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Academy Street

24 ft · 0 sec · North Academy Street

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

North Academy Street

Trip Plan

Planning for this trip is simple, as the 2-hour and 36-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for your departure time. Since the route involves only one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel or stretch your legs before tackling the remaining local roads. Because you are navigating turn-heavy local lanes, ensure your GPS is updated and clear, as the frequent changes in direction can be easy to miss if you are distracted. Aim to avoid peak local traffic hours to keep your transit time as close to the estimate as possible. A solid tip for this specific drive is to keep your fuel costs in mind, as the $20 estimate is based on typical local road efficiency; keeping your speed steady on these secondary roads will help you stick to that budget.

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 63.9 miles from Brices Creek, NC, or about 1h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.2 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 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.9 miles or 1h 19m 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 8m

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 Brices Creek, 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 Brices Creek, NC

This is one driving day of about 127.8 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brices Creek, 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 70 for about 58.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.9 mi from Brices Creek, NC · 1h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

64 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

Goldsboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.9 miles from Brices Creek, 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

$20.45 one way

$40.91 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$22.28	$44.57
premium	$4.78	$24.04	$48.08
diesel	$5.64	$28.39	$56.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38.3	$13.42	$6.13
Efficient EV	32	$11.18	$5.11
EV Truck/SUV	51.1	$17.89	$8.18

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Brices Creek, NC

Evening in Brices Creek on Sunday

Local time

5:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cary, NC

Evening in Cary on Sunday

Local time

5:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

3 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

2h 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 Brices Creek, NC to Cary, NC covers 127.8 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 70, Goldsboro Bypass, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 63.9 miles from Brices Creek, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.45 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 route from Brices Creek, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 0 ft to 497 ft elevation with about 599 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cary, NC to Brices Creek, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

128.5 mi 2h 36m

Continue From Cary, NC

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