Origin
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, NC to Fairplains, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
89 mi
143 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Fairplains, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Concord, NC to Fairplains, NC covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I-77 North, US 421, Davidson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.2 miles on I-77 North. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.92 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
44.5 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 89 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 89 miles, with most of the trip on I-77 North and US 421. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.2 miles on I-77 North.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I-77 North is the longest continuous segment at about 47.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,286 ft
635 ft
Total Climb
893 ft
Total Descent
291 ft
Highest Point
1,286 ft
~89 mi in
Elevation Range
651 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-77 North and US 421. 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89 miles you will encounter 13 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 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese 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.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the ramp toward I 77 North: Statesville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 77; US 21 / I-77 North
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21 / I-77 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
83.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesbor...
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 Fairplains, NC, road signs point toward Boone and Statesville.
Boone
66.2 mi in
|
~1h 24m
Statesville
83.4 mi in
|
~1h 44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-77 North | 47.2 mi | 53m |
| US 421 | 17 mi | 19m |
| Davidson Highway | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Sam Furr Road | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Statesville Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Church Street Northeast | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Sparta Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I-77 North
— 47.2 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Fairplains, 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
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Sam Furr Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 77
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 77 North
11
Continue on I 77
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
45 mi
·
50 min
·
I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 421 North: Wilkesboro, Boone
14
Merge onto US 421
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 421
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
16
Keep slight right at fork
198 ft
·
5 sec
Toward US 421 Business, NC 115: North Wilkesboro, Statesville
17
Turn slight right onto US 421 Business; NC 115
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Statesville Road
18
Turn right onto NC 18; NC 268
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
19
Continue on NC 18
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sparta Road
20
Arrive at destination
NC 18
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 44.5 miles from Concord, NC, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 20 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairplains, 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 89 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I-77 North for about 47.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.5 mi from Concord, NC · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.5 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fairplains, NC
The final approach into Fairplains, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.92 one way
$27.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.22 | $30.44 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.47 | $32.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.65 | $39.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.79 | $3.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Fairplains, NC
Late night in Fairplains on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
4 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 54m 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 Fairplains, NC covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I-77 North, US 421, 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 44.5 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 $13.92 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 89 miles you will encounter 13 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 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Concord, NC and Fairplains, NC, road signs point toward Boone and Statesville.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 635 ft to 1,286 ft elevation with about 893 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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