The drive from Concord, NC to Connelly Springs, NC covers 68.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NC 16, I 40, Davidson Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.4 miles on NC 16.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.76 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
34.4 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 68.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 68.8 miles, with most of the trip on NC 16 and I 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.4 miles on NC 16.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 16 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cabarrus Avenue West.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cabarrus Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Church Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (US 29; US 601; NC 73 / Concord Parkway North): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in|US 29; US 601; NC 73 / Concord Parkway North
Turn left onto US 29; US 601; NC 73 / Concord Parkway North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|NC 73 / Davidson Highway
Turn right onto NC 73 / Davidson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Icard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 116
Toward Icard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Connelly Springs, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Icard along the way.
Icard
65.4 mi in|~1h 34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 16
19.4 mi
26m
I 40
13.7 mi
15m
Davidson Highway
8.9 mi
13m
Sam Furr Road
8.9 mi
13m
NC 73
6.4 mi
10m
US 70
2.8 mi
5m
Conover Boulevard East
1.9 mi
3m
Church Street Northeast
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
NC 16
— 19.4 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Connelly Springs, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·17 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·37 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto NC 73
1.8 mi·3 min·Church Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NC 73
0.2 mi·27 sec·Davidson Drive Northwest
5
Turn left onto US 29; US 601; NC 73
0.4 mi·35 sec·Concord Parkway North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto NC 73
2.9 mi·4 min·Davidson Highway
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on NC 73
6.1 mi·8 min·Davidson Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NC 73
8.9 mi·13 min·Sam Furr Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NC 73
6.0 mi·9 min·NC 73
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on NC 73
0.4 mi·50 sec·NC 73
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward NC 16 North: Newton
12
Merge onto NC 16
17 mi·22 min·NC 16
13
Turn right onto Bethany Church Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Bethany Church Road
14
Turn left onto Mount Olive Church Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Mount Olive Church Road
15
Continue on Mt Olive Church Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Mt Olive Church Road
16
Turn right onto NC 16
2.4 mi·3 min·NC 16
17
Turn left onto US 70
1.9 mi·3 min·Conover Boulevard East
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
19
Merge onto I 40
14 mi·15 min·I 40
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 116Toward Icard
21
At end of road, turn right onto Old N.C. Highway 10
0.4 mi·53 sec·Old N.C. Highway 10
22
Turn left onto US 70
2.8 mi·5 min·US 70
23
Arrive at destination
US 70
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 34.4 miles from Concord, NC, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.4 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.4 miles or 53m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Connelly Springs, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 68.8 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 16 for about 19.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.4 mi from Concord, NC
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 34.4 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Connelly Springs, NC
The final approach into Connelly Springs, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Waterbean Coffee
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Huntersville, North Carolina
Early in the drive, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 19.7
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.76 one way
$21.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.76
$23.53
premium
$4.70
$12.73
$25.47
diesel
$5.61
$15.19
$30.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.02
$2.75
EV Truck/SUV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 18, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Connelly Springs, NC
Morning
in Connelly Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
10 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
1h 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Connelly Springs, NC covers 68.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 16, I 40, Davidson Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.4 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 $10.76 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cabarrus Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (NC 73 / Church Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (US 29; US 601; NC 73 / Concord Parkway North): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Connelly Springs, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Icard along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
