This 201.6-mile journey from Castle Hayne, NC, to Concord, NC, will take you approximately 4 hours and 11 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll primarily travel on Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with about 35% of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this route offers an affordable way to travel within the Southeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road, so plan for a single day of travel. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way, breaking up the drive nicely.
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
100.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 201.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this 201.6-mile route, with 35% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 86.5 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, offering a good opportunity for steady progress. As you transition between roads like Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, you'll likely notice a shift from potentially faster highway speeds to more local road conditions. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire 4 hours and 11 minutes. The drive offers a dynamic feel, keeping you engaged behind the wheel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Andrew Jackson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 86.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in near US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 201.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 14.7 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
14.7 mi into trip|~18m in|US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Turn right onto US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
137.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
5
200.8 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
201.5 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
86.5 mi
1h 44m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 742
24.9 mi
35m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.1 mi
11m
US 601
9.6 mi
10m
NC 24
8.7 mi
13m
Castle Hayne Road
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Castle Hayne, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Lynn Avenue
53 ft·3 sec·Lynn Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 117; NC 133
0.5 mi·49 sec·Castle Hayne Road
3
Enter roundabout onto NC 133
267 ft·4 sec·Castle Hayne Road
4
Continue on NC 133
2.5 mi·4 min·Castle Hayne Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 140
11 mi·11 min·John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
8
Turn right onto US 74; US 76
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
10
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
15
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·24 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
16
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 52; NC 742
17
Continue on NC 742
25 mi·35 min·NC 742
18
Continue on NC 205
1.7 mi·3 min·NC 205
19
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
8.7 mi·13 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto US 601
9.6 mi·10 min·US 601
21
Take the exit onto Union Street South
0.6 mi·58 sec·Union Street South
22
Continue on NC 3
2.3 mi·3 min·Branchview Drive Southeast
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto NC 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
25
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
26
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 11-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day of travel. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your single recommended stop. The longest stretch of 86.5 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway means you can cover significant ground efficiently before needing to slow down. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before entering longer, less populated segments, as the estimated $32 fuel cost is based on current averages. This drive is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the changing scenery as you move from Castle Hayne to Concord.
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 100.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 44 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 59m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castle Hayne, 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 Castle Hayne, NC
This is one driving day of about 201.6 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Castle Hayne, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.8 mi from Castle Hayne, NC
· 1h 59m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 20.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.53 one way
$63.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$34.47
$68.94
premium
$4.70
$37.31
$74.62
diesel
$5.61
$44.51
$89.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.64
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.22
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Castle Hayne, NC
Morning
in Castle Hayne on Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
7:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
101 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 11m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Castle Hayne, NC to Concord, NC covers 201.6 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, American Indian Highway, NC 742. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.8 miles from Castle Hayne, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.53 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 201.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 14.7 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.6 miles (US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Castle Hayne, NC to Concord, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
