This 92.3-mile journey from Concord, NC, to Mulberry, NC, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours to complete. With a focus on highway driving, about 71% of the route utilizes major roads like I-77 North and US 421. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $14, making it an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region. This route is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward and efficient drive with minimal fuss, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It offers a practical way to travel between these two North Carolina locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a primarily highway-focused experience on this route, with a significant 71% of your travel time spent on major roadways. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 47.2 miles on I-77 North, offering a chance for consistent speed. While much of the drive involves highway cruising, the inclusion of Davidson Highway suggests a transition to more local road sections as you near your destination. This mix provides a dynamic driving experience, moving from faster interstates to potentially more community-oriented roads.
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.
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.
Route Complexity8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 92.3 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 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 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.
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 Mulberry, 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
Sparta Road
4.8 mi
8m
Statesville Road
2.9 mi
5m
Church Street Northeast
1.8 mi
3m
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 Mulberry, 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: StatesvilleUse 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
4.8 mi·8 min·Sparta Road
20
Arrive at destination
NC 18
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving Concord in the morning allows ample time to reach Mulberry and still have your day ahead of you. The longest uninterrupted stretch is on I-77 North, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. With an estimated fuel cost of just $14, you won't need to worry extensively about budget. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from I-77 North to US 421, as this is a key point where the road character shifts.
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 46.2 miles from Concord, NC, or about 1h 1m 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 1h 1m 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 Mulberry, 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 92.3 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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 46.2 mi from Concord, NC
· 1h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mulberry, NC
The final approach into Mulberry, 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 Mulberry, 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
$14.43 one way
$28.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.78
$31.56
premium
$4.70
$17.08
$34.17
diesel
$5.61
$20.38
$40.76
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: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.91
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 6 hours ago
Origin
Concord, NC
Night
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:51PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 14 at 3:50AM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Mulberry, NC
Night
in Mulberry on Tuesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 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 Mulberry, NC covers 92.3 miles and takes about 2h 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 46.2 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 $14.43 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 is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 92.3 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 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 Mulberry, NC, road signs point toward Boone and Statesville.
