Origin
Burlington, NC
Night in Burlington on Thursday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50.9 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.9-mile drive from Burlington, NC, to Cary, NC, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is predominantly highway, accounting for 85% of the journey. With a projected fuel cost of $8, this is an economical option for travelers within the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway, with a brief stint on North Harrison Avenue. This drive is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 50.9-mile trip, with 85% of it spent on major roadways like I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.8 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace. While primarily high-speed, the route incorporates North Harrison Avenue, which may introduce slightly more varied driving conditions as you approach Cary. This drive prioritizes getting you there smoothly and directly, rather than offering winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
NC 54 / East Harden Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 54 / East Harden Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge onto I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
6
47.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Cary
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 28.8 mi | 33m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| North Harrison Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Webb Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Harden Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Harden Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 28.8 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn right onto NC 87; NC 100
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Continue on NC 87
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Elm Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Harden Street
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto NC 54
78 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
6
Continue on NC 54
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge onto I 40; I 85
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cary
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto SR 1652
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.4 mi from Burlington, NC · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Burlington, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.70 | $17.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.42 | $18.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Cary, NC
Night in Cary on Thursday
Local time
11:09 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
10 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
1h 2m 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 Burlington, NC to Cary, NC covers 50.9 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Sam Hunt Freeway, North Harrison Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.4 miles from Burlington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.96 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.3 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Burlington, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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