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Trip from Cary, NC to Rutherfordton, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 24m

Distance

217.8 mi

351 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 11m ★
6 AM
4h 24m
8 AM
4h 51m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 31m
3 PM
4h 35m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 16m

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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Downtown Cary, NC, NC

Cary, NC

C k

town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States

Rutherfordton, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cary, NC to Rutherfordton, NC covers 217.8 miles and takes about 4h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Dan K. Moore Frwy, Rutherford Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.5 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.06 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

108.9 miles from Cary, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 123.5 mi 2h 22m
Dan K. Moore Frwy 59.8 mi 1h 9m
Rutherford Road 27.9 mi 38m
North Harrison Avenue 3.3 mi 5m
Burkemont Avenue 1.3 mi 3m
Green Street 0.7 mi 1m
Railroad Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 123.5 mi, about 2h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Academy Street

24 ft · 5 sec · North Academy Street
2

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Chapel Hill Road
3

Turn right onto SR 1652

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 41 sec
5

Merge onto I 40

60 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

103 mi · 1 hr 57 min · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville Use the slight left lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Exit 103 Toward US 64: Morganton, Rutherfordton
10

Turn left onto US 64

1.3 mi · 3 min · Burkemont Avenue
11

Continue on US 64

28 mi · 38 min · Rutherford Road
12

Turn left onto US 74A; US 221 Truck

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Railroad Avenue
13

Turn sharp right onto Green Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Green Street
14

At end of road, turn left onto US 221

0.3 mi · 48 sec · North Main Street
15

Arrive at destination

US 221

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 108.9 miles from Cary, NC, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.5 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 48 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.9 miles or 2h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutherfordton, 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 217.8 miles and 4h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 123.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Maine, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Maine, NC

109 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

Graham, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maine, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.9 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19197814810

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 15.6

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

Given Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.3

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–12 pm

+13363317291

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 46.7

Haw River, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 46.7

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Red E Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

+13132626722

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 15.6

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

+18889982546

ChargePoint Charging Station

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13365782427

Visit website

Children's Museum of Alamance County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 46.7

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13362287997

Visit website

Gold Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 31.1

Hillsborough, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19197321270

Visit website

Graham Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 46.7

Haw River, North Carolina

+13365706718

Visit website

Piedmont Wildlife Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 15.6

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19194890900

Visit website

ICY RICH GIRLS MUSEUM

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 77.8

Greensboro, North Carolina

Hours: 5–10 pm

+13369474244

Visit website

Lake Crabtree County Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Morrisville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+19194603390

Visit website

Game On Escapes & More - Cary

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 10:30 am–10:30 pm

+19194380798

Visit website

All A Flutter Farms LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 77.8

High Point, North Carolina

+13364545651

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 187 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Chapel Hill Road

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

Navigation decision point

6
63.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | I 40; US 220

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
83.8 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
6
187 mi into trip | ~3h 38m in

Take the exit toward US 64: Morganton, Rutherfordton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 103 Toward US 64: Morganton, Rutherfordton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.06 one way

$68.12 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $37.24 $74.48
premium $4.70 $40.31 $80.62
diesel $5.61 $48.09 $96.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.3 0 $22.87 $10.45
Efficient EV 54.5 0 $19.06 $8.71
EV Truck/SUV 87.1 1 $30.49 $13.94

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cary, NC

Afternoon in Cary on Saturday

Local time

4:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rutherfordton, NC

Afternoon in Rutherfordton on Saturday

Local time

4:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Maine, NC

109 mi in

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

4h 24m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

217.8 mi in 4h 24m — 57% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 40.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.5 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 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 217.8 miles you will encounter 12 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): Navigation decision point; at 63.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Cary, NC to Rutherfordton, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.

Statesville

83.8 mi in | ~1h 40m | via I 40

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 217.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 123.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rutherfordton, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 63.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Rutherfordton, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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