Trip from Cary, NC to Maiden, NC

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

169.3 mi

272 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 13m ★

6 AM

3h 25m

8 AM

3h 49m

10 AM

3h 33m

12 PM

3h 31m

3 PM

3h 34m

5 PM

3h 48m

8 PM

3h 17m

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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Cary, NC

C k

Maiden, NC

Anna McDonald

Trip Overview

The drive from Cary, NC to Maiden, NC covers 169.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Chapel Hill Road, North Harrison Avenue, Dan K for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.47 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

84.6 miles from Cary, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 3h 24m drive with frequent turns across 169.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Chapel Hill Road 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Cary, NC to Maiden, NC is easy. At 3h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Chapel Hill Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Harrison Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan K	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 40 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rock Barn Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rockbarn Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rock Barn Road Northeast	Unavailable	Refreshing
7th Avenue Northeast	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Chapel Hill Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Academy Street

23 ft · 6 sec · North Academy Street

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Chapel Hill Road

Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Harrison Avenue

Take the ramp left

0.4 mi · 41 sec

Merge slight left onto Dan K. Moore Frwy.

60 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy

Keep slight right

7.7 mi · 9 min

Keep slight right

13 mi · 15 min

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

73 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

Take the exit slight right toward Rock Barn Road

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Rock Barn Road

Turn left onto Rockbarn Road

499 ft · 9 sec · Rockbarn Road

Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast

1.1 mi · 1 min · Rock Barn Road Northeast

Continue on Rockbarn Road

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Rockbarn Road

Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast

0.5 mi · 46 sec · 7th Avenue Northeast

Continue straight

1.0 mi · 1 min

Turn left onto Northwest Boulevard

8.8 mi · 14 min · Northwest Boulevard

At the end of the road, turn left onto West Main Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · West Main Street

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 84.6 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 42m 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 84.6 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maiden, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 169.3 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cary, 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 84.6 mi from Cary, NC · 1h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greensboro, NC

85 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

Greensboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Greensboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.6 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Maiden, NC

The final approach into Maiden, 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 Maiden, 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

$26.47 one way

$52.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$28.95	$57.90
premium	$4.70	$31.33	$62.67
diesel	$5.61	$37.38	$74.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	50.8	$17.78	$8.13
Efficient EV	42.3	$14.81	$6.77
EV Truck/SUV	67.7	$23.70	$10.84

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Cary, NC

Late night in Cary on Wednesday

Local time

5:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Maiden, NC

Late night in Maiden on Wednesday

Local time

5:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

7 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 24m 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 Cary, NC to Maiden, NC covers 169.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Chapel Hill Road, North Harrison Avenue, Dan K. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 84.6 miles from Cary, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.47 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.

The drive from Cary, NC to Maiden, NC is easy. At 3h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

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

The route from Cary, NC to Maiden, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.