Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
186.9 mi
301 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Carolina Shores, NC
Mark Teachey
The drive from Cary, NC to Carolina Shores, NC covers 186.9 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Ocean Highway East, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.23 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
93.4 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 105.4 mi | 1h 52m |
| Ocean Highway East | 38.2 mi | 49m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Country Club Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Carolina Shores Parkway | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Carolina Shores, NC.
Start on North Academy Street
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Continue on I 40; US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 140
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 17
Turn left onto SR 1168
Turn left onto Carolina Shores Parkway
Arrive at destination
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.
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 41 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carolina Shores, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cary, 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 Cary, NC
This is one driving day of about 186.9 miles and 3h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 93.4 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 147.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$29.23 one way
$58.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.96 | $63.91 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.59 | $69.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.27 | $82.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.62 | $8.97 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.35 | $7.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.8 | 0 | $26.17 | $11.96 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Cary on Saturday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Carolina Shores on Saturday
Local time
2:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
186.9 mi in 3h 34m, mostly highway — 105.4 mi of that is on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Ocean Highway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 186.9 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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cary, NC and Carolina Shores, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
Wilmington
Myrtle Beach
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 186.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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