Trip from Charlotte, NC to Alamance, NC

Drive Time

2h 6m

Distance

107.1 mi

172 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

Downtown Alamance, NC, NC

Photo: Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Charlotte, NC to Alamance, NC covers 107.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Sugar Creek Road, I 85 North, Julius Chambers Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.70 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

53.5 miles from Charlotte, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 107.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Sugar Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Sugar Creek Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 85 North Unavailable Refreshing
Julius Chambers Highway Unavailable Refreshing
US 29 Unavailable Refreshing
University Drive Unavailable Refreshing
Grand Oaks Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
Kirkpatrick Road Unavailable Refreshing
Alamance Road Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: West Sugar Creek Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Alamance, NC.

1

Start on South Tryon Street

3.5 mi · 7 min · South Tryon Street
2

Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Sugar Creek Road
3

Take the ramp right toward I 85 North: Concord

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 85 North: Concord
4

Merge slight left onto Julius Chambers Highway

45 mi · 51 min · Julius Chambers Highway
5

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point

33 mi · 35 min · I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
6

Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

5.9 mi · 6 min · US 29, US 70
7

Keep slight left

14 mi · 16 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward University Drive, Elon

0.4 mi · 50 sec · University Drive, Elon
9

Turn right onto University Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · University Drive
10

Continue on Grand Oaks Boulevard

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Grand Oaks Boulevard
11

Turn right onto Kirkpatrick Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Kirkpatrick Road
12

At the end of the road, turn right onto Alamance Road

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Alamance Road
13

Continue on S NC Highway 62 E

0.4 mi · 42 sec · S NC Highway 62 E
14

Turn left onto Cardinal Lane

33 ft · 1 sec · Cardinal Lane
15

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.5 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 1h 3m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 53.5 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alamance, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Charlotte, 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 Charlotte, NC

This is one driving day of about 107.1 miles and 2h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charlotte, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 53.5 mi from Charlotte, NC · 1h 3m into the drive

Downtown Winston-Salem, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Winston-Salem, NC

54 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

Greensboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Winston-Salem, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.5 miles from Charlotte, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Alamance, NC

The final approach into Alamance, 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 Alamance, 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

$16.70 one way

$33.40 round trip

$3.96/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $18.68 $37.35
premium $4.78 $20.15 $40.29
diesel $5.62 $23.71 $47.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.1 0 $11.25 $5.14
Efficient EV 26.8 0 $9.37 $4.28
EV Truck/SUV 42.8 0 $14.99 $6.85

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (65% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Charlotte, NC

Morning in Charlotte on Saturday

Local time

11:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Alamance, NC

Morning in Alamance on Saturday

Local time

11:38 AM

EDT

Current temp

91°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

90°F

Winston-Salem, NC

54 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

26 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 6m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Charlotte, NC to Alamance, NC covers 107.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Sugar Creek Road, I 85 North, Julius Chambers Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.5 miles from Charlotte, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.70 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.

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