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Trip from Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

112.4 mi

181 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States

Charlotte, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Pembroke, NC, NC

Pembroke, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC covers 112.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East 5th Street, US 74 East, East Independence Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.58 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.

Midpoint

56.2 miles from Charlotte, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 25m drive with frequent turns across 112.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 5th Street 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC is easy. At 2h 25m 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 Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 5th Street
US 74 East
East Independence Boulevard
East Independence Expressway
Independence Boulevard
Monroe Expressway
Carroll M
West Marshville Boulevard

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East 5th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Tryon Street

489 ft · 14 sec · South Tryon Street
2

Turn right onto East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 53 sec · East 5th Street
3

Keep slight left to continue on East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · East 5th Street
4

Take the ramp straight toward NC 27 East, US 74 East

0.4 mi · 45 sec · NC 27 East, US 74 East
5

Continue on US 74 East: Independence Expressway

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 74 East: Independence Expressway
6

Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard

358 ft · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard
7

Continue on East Independence Expressway

2.1 mi · 2 min · East Independence Expressway
8

Continue on East Independence Boulevard

2.4 mi · 3 min · East Independence Boulevard
9

Continue on Independence Boulevard

4.5 mi · 6 min · Independence Boulevard
10

Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway

19 mi · 21 min · Monroe Expressway
11

Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
12

Continue on West Marshville Boulevard

2.9 mi · 5 min · West Marshville Boulevard
13

Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway
14

Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

6.1 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
15

Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway
16

Continue on Salisbury Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Salisbury Street
17

Continue on West Caswell Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Caswell Street
18

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

10 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
19

Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
20

Continue on G R Kindley Freeway

15 mi · 16 min · G R Kindley Freeway
21

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

9.7 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
22

Keep slight right to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

10 mi · 11 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
23

Continue on American Indian Highway

3.5 mi · 3 min · American Indian Highway
24

Take the exit slight right toward US 74 Alternate East

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 74 Alternate East
25

Turn straight onto Andrew Jackson Highway

5.2 mi · 7 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
26

Turn left

1.0 mi · 1 min
27

Continue straight

0.1 mi · 14 sec
28

Turn straight

2.1 mi · 3 min
29

Turn right onto Vance Street

121 ft · 5 sec · Vance Street
30

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 56.2 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 1h 12m 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 25 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.2 miles or 1h 12m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke, 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 112.4 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Charlotte, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.2 mi from Charlotte, NC · 1h 12m into the drive

Downtown Chesterfield, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chesterfield, SC

56 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

Indian Trail, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chesterfield, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.2 miles from Charlotte, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pembroke, NC

The final approach into Pembroke, 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 Pembroke, 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

$17.58 one way

$35.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $19.22 $38.44
premium $4.70 $20.80 $41.61
diesel $5.61 $24.82 $49.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.7 0 $11.80 $5.40
Efficient EV 28.1 0 $9.83 $4.50
EV Truck/SUV 45 0 $15.74 $7.19

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Charlotte, NC

Late night in Charlotte on Thursday

Local time

3:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pembroke, NC

Late night in Pembroke on Thursday

Local time

3:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Chesterfield, SC

56 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

2 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

2h 25m 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 Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC covers 112.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 5th Street, US 74 East, East Independence Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.2 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 $17.58 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.
The drive from Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC is easy. At 2h 25m 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 Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Charlotte, NC to Pembroke, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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