Origin
Cary, NC
Afternoon in Cary on Saturday
Local time
4:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cary, NC to Surf City, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
139.8 mi
225 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Surf City, NC
Kyle Miller
Trip Overview
The drive from Cary, NC to Surf City, NC covers 139.8 miles and takes about 2h 53m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.86 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
69.9 miles from Cary, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill Road | — | — |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | — | — |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | — | — |
| SR 42 | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
| NC 24 East | — | — |
| South Kenansville Bypass | — | — |
| D S Williams Road | — | — |
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 Surf City, 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 left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
9
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
60 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
10
Take the exit slight right toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
11
Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Kenansville Bypass
12
Turn right onto D S Williams Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
D S Williams Road
13
Turn right
11 mi
·
14 min
14
Continue straight
1.9 mi
·
2 min
15
Turn right
3.0 mi
·
4 min
16
Continue on Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Cypress Creek Road
17
Turn left onto Sycamore Springs Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sycamore Springs Road
18
Continue on Old Maple Hill Road North
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Maple Hill Road North
19
Turn left
5.1 mi
·
7 min
20
Turn right
17 mi
·
24 min
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
22
Exit the roundabout
0.8 mi
·
1 min
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North New River Drive
226 ft
·
5 sec
·
North New River Drive
24
Exit the roundabout onto North New River Drive
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
North New River Drive
25
Continue on North New River Drive
203 ft
·
10 sec
·
North New River Drive
26
Turn left onto Roland Avenue
108 ft
·
12 sec
·
Roland Avenue
27
Continue on Roland Avenue
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
Roland Avenue
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.9 miles from Cary, NC, or about 1h 26m 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surf City, 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 139.8 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.9 miles from Cary, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.86 one way
$43.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.90 | $47.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.87 | $51.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.87 | $61.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.68 | $6.71 |
| Efficient EV | 35 | 0 | $12.23 | $5.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.9 | 0 | $19.57 | $8.95 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Surf City, NC
Afternoon in Surf City on Saturday
Local time
4:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
1 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
2h 53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
139.8 mi in 2h 53m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Chapel Hill Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Surf City, NC is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Surf City, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 139.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cary, NC to Surf City, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Surf City, NC before heading back.
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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