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Trip from Bryson City, NC to Concord, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 29m

Distance

200.5 mi

323 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 18m ★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 23m

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

town in Swain County, North Carolina, United States of America

Bryson City, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in North Carolina, United States

Concord, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bryson City, NC to Concord, NC covers 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Bryson Avenue, Slope Street, Highway 19 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.35 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

100.2 miles from Bryson City, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 200.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bryson 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bryson Avenue
Slope Street
Highway 19 South
Veterans Boulevard
Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
I 40 East
I 26 East
Andrew Jackson Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Bryson Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bryson City, NC and Concord, NC.

1

Start on the route

62 ft · 6 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto Bryson Avenue

449 ft · 25 sec · Bryson Avenue
3

Turn left onto Slope Street

0.3 mi · 57 sec · Slope Street
4

Continue on Highway 19 South

371 ft · 8 sec · Highway 19 South
5

Continue on Veterans Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Veterans Boulevard
6

Take the ramp straight

0.2 mi · 21 sec
7

Merge slight left onto Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

40 mi · 49 min · Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
8

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Asheville

18 mi · 23 min · I 40 East: Asheville
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 74 East, US 64 Truck East: Hendersonville, Spartanburg

23 mi · 27 min · I 26 East, US 74 East, US 64 Truck East: Hendersonville, Spartanburg
10

Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
11

Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
12

Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
13

Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

18 mi · 19 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
14

Continue on James A. Callahan Highway

15 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway
15

Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard

12 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard
16

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
17

Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
18

Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
19

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

0.8 mi · 56 sec · I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
20

Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

18 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
21

Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

18 mi · 22 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge
22

Take the exit slight right toward Mallard Creek Church Road East

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Mallard Creek Church Road East
23

Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Mallard Creek Church Road
24

Turn left onto North Tryon Street

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Tryon Street
25

Continue on Concord Parkway South

6.7 mi · 9 min · Concord Parkway South
26

Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cabarrus Avenue West
27

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cabarrus Avenue West

157 ft · 3 sec · Cabarrus Avenue West
28

Exit the roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Cabarrus Avenue West
29

Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest

410 ft · 11 sec · Spring Street Southwest
30

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 100.2 miles from Bryson City, NC, or about 1h 44m 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 44 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.2 miles or 1h 44m 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 52m

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 Bryson City, 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 Bryson City, NC

This is one driving day of about 200.5 miles and 3h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Bryson City, 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 100.2 mi from Bryson City, NC · 1h 44m into the drive

Downtown Inman Mills, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Inman Mills, SC

100 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

Bent Creek, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Inman Mills, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.2 miles from Bryson City, 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

$31.35 one way

$62.71 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $34.28 $68.56
premium $4.70 $37.11 $74.22
diesel $5.61 $44.27 $88.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.2 0 $21.05 $9.62
Efficient EV 50.1 0 $17.54 $8.02
EV Truck/SUV 80.2 1 $28.07 $12.83

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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

Bryson City, NC

Late night in Bryson City on Thursday

Local time

12:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, NC

Late night in Concord on Thursday

Local time

12:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°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

6 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

3h 29m 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 Bryson City, NC to Concord, NC covers 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bryson Avenue, Slope Street, Highway 19 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.2 miles from Bryson City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.35 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bryson City, NC to Concord, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bryson City, NC to Concord, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Concord, NC to Bryson City, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

199.7 mi 4h 9m

Explore more options from Bryson City, NC or browse trips ending in Concord, NC.

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