Origin
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Saturday
Local time
5:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
114.8 mi
185 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 9m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 25m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Banner Elk, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC covers 114.8 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cabarrus Avenue West, Church Street Northeast, Davidson Drive Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.95 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
57.4 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 3m drive with frequent turns across 114.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cabarrus Avenue West 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC is easy. At 3h 3m 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 Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus Avenue West | — | — |
| Church Street Northeast | — | — |
| Davidson Drive Northwest | — | — |
| Concord Parkway North | — | — |
| Davidson Highway | — | — |
| Sam Furr Road | — | — |
| NC 16 North | — | — |
| Smyre Farm Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Cabarrus Avenue West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Banner Elk, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
410 ft
·
18 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
3
Turn left onto Church Street Northeast
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Church Street Northeast
4
Turn left onto Davidson Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Davidson Drive Northwest
5
Turn left onto Concord Parkway North
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Concord Parkway North
6
Turn right onto Davidson Highway
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Davidson Highway
7
Continue on Davidson Highway
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Davidson Highway
8
Continue on Sam Furr Road
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Sam Furr Road
9
Continue straight
6.0 mi
·
9 min
10
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
11
Take the ramp right toward NC 16 North: Newton
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
NC 16 North: Newton
12
Merge slight left
17 mi
·
22 min
13
Turn left onto Smyre Farm Road
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Smyre Farm Road
14
At the end of the road, turn left
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
15
Turn right onto McKay Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
McKay Road
16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sigmon Dairy Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sigmon Dairy Road
17
Turn sharp left
2.9 mi
·
4 min
18
Take the ramp right toward NC 10: Newton
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
NC 10: Newton
19
Merge slight left
44 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
20
Turn left onto Sunset Drive
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sunset Drive
21
Turn right onto Ransom Street
322 ft
·
19 sec
·
Ransom Street
22
Turn left
249 ft
·
20 sec
23
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
24
Turn right onto Yonahlossee Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Yonahlossee Road
25
Turn right onto Cone Road
180 ft
·
10 sec
·
Cone Road
26
Turn left onto Shulls Mill Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Shulls Mill Road
27
Turn left onto Old Turnpike Road
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Old Turnpike Road
28
At the end of the road, turn left onto Shulls Mill Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shulls Mill Road
29
At the end of the road, turn left onto NC Highway 105 South
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
NC Highway 105 South
30
Turn right onto Tynecastle Highway
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Tynecastle Highway
31
Continue on Shawneehaw Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shawneehaw Avenue South
32
At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street East
85 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street East
33
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 57.4 miles from Concord, NC, or about 1h 31m 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 31m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Banner Elk, 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 114.8 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.4 mi from Concord, NC · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.4 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Banner Elk, NC
The final approach into Banner Elk, 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 Banner Elk, 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
$17.95 one way
$35.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.25 | $42.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.35 | $50.69 |
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: 40.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.05 | $5.51 |
| Efficient EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.07 | $7.35 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Banner Elk, NC
Late night in Banner Elk on Saturday
Local time
5:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
12 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
3h 3m 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 Banner Elk, NC covers 114.8 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cabarrus Avenue West, Church Street Northeast, Davidson Drive Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.4 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 $17.95 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC is easy. At 3h 3m 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 Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Concord, NC to Banner Elk, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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