Origin
Cary, NC
Evening in Cary on Thursday
Local time
6:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cary, NC to Nashville, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
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.
Cary, NC
C k
Nashville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 55.1-mile journey from Cary, North Carolina, to Nashville, North Carolina, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Given its short distance and highway-focused profile, it's perfectly suited as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect a fuel cost of around $9 for this route. The drive primarily utilizes US 64 and I-87, also known as the Dan K Moore Freeway, making it an efficient way to travel within the Southeast region. This route offers a practical and uncomplicated option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours or time commitments.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 96% of the route taking place on faster roads like US 64 and I-87. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for most of the 55.1 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.8 miles, primarily on US 64, allowing for a consistent pace without frequent slowdowns. This highway-centric nature means you're likely to encounter steady traffic flow, making it a predictable and smooth driving experience for the majority of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
497 ft
185 ft
Total Climb
122 ft
Total Descent
434 ft
Highest Point
497 ft
Elevation Range
312 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 87. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill Road.
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 55.1 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge onto I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 87; I 440; US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64 toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rock...
8
15.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 87; US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64 toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
5
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward NC 58: Nashville, Castalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NC 58: Nashville, Castalia
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cary, NC and Nashville, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
Wilson
15.3 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 87; US 64
Greenville
15.3 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 87; US 64
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 64 | 21.8 mi | 23m |
| I 87 | 20 mi | 21m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| NC 58 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Alston Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Academy Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 21.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Nashville, NC.
1
Start on North Academy Street
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Academy Street
2
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 87; US 64
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
22 mi
·
23 min
·
US 64
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NC 58: Nashville, Castalia
10
Turn right onto NC 58
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NC 58
11
Turn left onto North Alston Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Alston Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Alston Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.5 mi from Cary, NC · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nashville, NC
The final approach into Nashville, 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
$8.62 one way
$17.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.42 | $18.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Nashville, NC
Evening in Nashville on Thursday
Local time
6:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
21 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 3m 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 Nashville, NC covers 55.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 64, I 87, Dan K Moore Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.5 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 $8.62 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 55.1 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 40 / Dan K Moore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cary, NC and Nashville, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 185 ft to 497 ft elevation with about 122 ft of total climbing.
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