Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
199.7 mi
321 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Concord, NC to Bryson City, NC covers 199.7 miles and takes about 4h 9m 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, Concord Parkway South, North Tryon Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
99.8 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 9m drive with frequent turns across 199.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 9m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Concord, NC to Bryson City, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Concord Parkway South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Tryon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 485 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Governor James G Martin Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| H Allen Tate Jr Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Craig Lawing Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Bryson City, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cabarrus Avenue West
Exit the roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn left onto Concord Parkway South
Continue on North Tryon Street
Take the ramp right toward I 485 Outer North
Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway
Continue on H Allen Tate Jr Highway
Continue on Craig Lawing Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 29, US 74: Greensboro, Spartanburg, Wilkinson Boulevard
Keep slight right to continue on I 85 South: Gastonia, Spartanburg
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on East Dixon Boulevard
Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard
Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
Keep slight left to continue on Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward US 19 CONN: Bryson City
Keep slight right to continue on US 19 CONN: Bryson City
Turn straight onto Veterans Boulevard
Continue on Highway 19 South
Continue on Slope Street
Turn right onto Bryson Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.8 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bryson City, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 199.7 miles and 4h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.8 mi from Concord, NC · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.8 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bryson City, 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 Bryson City, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.96 one way
$63.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $34.82 | $69.64 |
| premium | $4.78 | $37.57 | $75.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.37 | $88.73 |
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: 69.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
| Efficient EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.47 | $7.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.9 | 0 | $27.96 | $12.78 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Concord on Sunday
Local time
9:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Bryson City on Sunday
Local time
9:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
62°F
Inman Mills, SC
100 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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