Origin
Cary, NC
Evening in Cary on Thursday
Local time
5:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cary, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
159.7 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Atlantic Beach, NC
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from Cary, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC covers 159.7 miles and takes about 3h 15m 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, Dan K Moore Freeway, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.97 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
79.8 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 159.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 159.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cary, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC is easy. At 3h 15m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill Road | — | — |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | — | — |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | — | — |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | — | — |
| Goldsboro Bypass | — | — |
| West New Bern Road | — | — |
| East New Bern Road | — | — |
| Freedom Memorial Bridge | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Chapel Hill Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Atlantic Beach, NC.
1
Start on North Academy Street
23 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Academy Street
2
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
3
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Dan K Moore Freeway
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
5
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
8
Continue straight
7.6 mi
·
9 min
9
Keep slight left
14 mi
·
19 min
10
Continue straight
2.0 mi
·
2 min
11
Continue on Goldsboro Bypass
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Goldsboro Bypass
12
Continue straight
11 mi
·
13 min
13
Turn straight onto West New Bern Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West New Bern Road
14
Continue on East New Bern Road
33 mi
·
36 min
·
East New Bern Road
15
Keep slight left to continue on Freedom Memorial Bridge
35 mi
·
48 min
·
Freedom Memorial Bridge
16
Turn right onto Atlantic Beach Bridge
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Beach Bridge
17
Continue on Atlantic Beach Causeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Beach Causeway
18
Turn right onto West Terminal Boulevard
328 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Terminal Boulevard
19
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 79.8 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 37m 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 37m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic Beach, 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 159.7 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 79.8 mi from Cary, NC · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atlantic Beach, NC
The final approach into Atlantic Beach, 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 Atlantic Beach, 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
$24.97 one way
$49.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $27.31 | $54.61 |
| premium | $4.70 | $29.56 | $59.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.26 | $70.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.77 | $7.67 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.97 | $6.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.36 | $10.22 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Atlantic Beach, NC
Evening in Atlantic Beach on Thursday
Local time
5:49 PM
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
22 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 15m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC covers 159.7 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chapel Hill Road, Dan K Moore Freeway, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.8 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 $24.97 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 Atlantic Beach, NC is easy. At 3h 15m 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 Atlantic Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cary, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Atlantic Beach, NC
More trips to Atlantic Beach, NC
Explore more options from Cary, NC or browse trips ending in Atlantic Beach, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Cary, NC or Atlantic Beach, NC on MapSof.net.