The drive from Concord, NC to Avery Creek, NC covers 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Andrew Jackson Highway, I 85, Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.25 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
68 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 135.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 49m drive with frequent turns across 135.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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 30 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 135.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9.8 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the ramp toward I 485 Outer North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 485 Outer North
8
28.8 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward I 85, US 29, US 74: Greensboro, Spartanburg, Wilkinson Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9-10
Toward I 85, US 29, US 74: Greensboro, Spartanb...
9
29.2 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 85 South: Gastonia, Spartanburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 85 South: Gastonia, Spartanburg
8
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NC 146 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NC 146 West
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Concord, NC and Avery Creek, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Shelby and Asheville.
Spartanburg
28.8 mi in|~36m
Shelby
49.2 mi in|~1h 2m
Asheville
105.2 mi in|~2h 9m|via I 26; US 74
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
30 mi
36m
I 85
19.1 mi
23m
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18.3 mi
19m
West Dixon Boulevard
15.7 mi
17m
East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi
17m
Craig Lawing Freeway
10.3 mi
11m
H Allen Tate Jr Highway
7.9 mi
8m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 30 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Avery Creek, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·20 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn left onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.9 mi·2 min·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the left lane.
3
Enter roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West
84 ft·1 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
4
Continue on Cabarrus Avenue West
1.0 mi·1 min·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 29
6.7 mi·10 min·Concord Parkway South
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 29
1.0 mi·1 min·North Tryon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 485 Outer NorthUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 485
0.5 mi·29 sec·Governor James G Martin Freeway
9
Continue on I 485
7.9 mi·8 min·H Allen Tate Jr Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 485
10 mi·11 min·Craig Lawing Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 9-10Toward I 85, US 29, US 74: Greensboro, Spartanburg, Wilkinson BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 10BToward I 85 South: Gastonia, SpartanburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 85
19 mi·23 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·50 sec
Exit 10BToward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, ShelbyUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi·8 min·Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi·2 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
17
Continue on US 74
12 mi·17 min·East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp onto US 74
16 mi·17 min·West Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 74
18 mi·19 min·Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
20
Merge onto I 26; US 74
28 mi·33 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Toward Asheville
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward NC 146: Skyland
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward NC 146 West
23
Turn straight onto NC 146
1.6 mi·3 min·Long Shoals Road
24
Turn left onto NC 191
0.2 mi·21 sec·Brevard Road
25
Turn right onto Averys Creek Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Averys Creek Road
26
Turn left onto McDonald Road
77 ft·3 sec·McDonald Road
27
Arrive at destination
McDonald Road
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 68 miles from Concord, NC, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30 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 30 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 27m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avery Creek, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Concord, 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 Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 135.9 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Concord, 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 30 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68 mi from Concord, NC
· 1h 27m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.89
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
Gas CO2
48 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Evening
in Concord on Thursday
Local time
6:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Avery Creek, NC
Evening
in Avery Creek on Thursday
Local time
6:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Shelby, NC
68 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
6 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 49m 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 Concord, NC to Avery Creek, NC covers 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Andrew Jackson Highway, I 85, Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 miles from Concord, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.25 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 135.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Concord, NC and Avery Creek, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Shelby and Asheville.
