Origin
Carthage, NC
Evening in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, NC to Cary, NC
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Carthage, NC to Cary, NC covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway, Jefferson Davis Highway, US 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.42 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.3 miles from Carthage, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 52.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Carthage, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 8m with 20% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501 / Jefferson Davis Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street
Right onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
4
11.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 1; US 15; US 501 / Jefferson Davis Highway
Turn left onto US 1; US 15; US 501 / Jefferson Davis Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
47.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Tryon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Tryon Road
4
48.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
Kildaire Farm Road
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| Jefferson Davis Highway | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| US 15 | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Kildaire Farm Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Monroe Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Tryon Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Academy Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Courthouse Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
— 18.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
473 ft
·
9 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Monroe Street
3
Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
10 mi
·
14 min
·
US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27
4
Turn left onto US 1; US 15; US 501
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Jefferson Davis Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 1
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
7
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 26.3 miles from Carthage, NC, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 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 52.6 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.3 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
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 Carthage, 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 Carthage, NC
This is one driving day of about 52.6 miles and 1h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carthage, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway for about 18.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Carthage, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
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
$8.42 one way
$16.84 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.17 | $18.34 |
| premium | $4.78 | $9.89 | $19.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.69 | $23.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
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
Evening in Cary on Sunday
Local time
5:16 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
1h 8m 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 Carthage, NC to Cary, NC covers 52.6 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway, Jefferson Davis Highway, US 15. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.3 miles from Carthage, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.42 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.
The drive from Carthage, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 8m with 20% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / Monroe Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles (US 1; US 15; US 501 / Jefferson Davis Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Carthage, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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