Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
84 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Pilot Mountain, NC
Anna McDonald
The drive from Concord, NC to Pilot Mountain, NC covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 285, US 601, I 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.6 miles on I 285. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.14 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
42 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 40m highway drive covering 84 miles, with most of the trip on I 285 and US 601. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.6 miles on I 285.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 285 and US 601. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cabarrus Avenue West.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84 miles you will encounter 8 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 3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto NC 73 / Church Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 601 toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Pilot Mountain, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Winston-Salem along the way.
Winston-Salem
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 285 | 50.6 mi | 58m |
| US 601 | 25.3 mi | 28m |
| I 85 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Church Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Key Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Pilot Mountain, NC.
Start on Spring Street Southwest
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn left onto NC 73
Merge onto US 29; US 601
Take the exit onto US 601
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto NC 268
Continue on NC 268
Arrive at destination
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.
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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 50m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pilot Mountain, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 84 miles and 1h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42 mi from Concord, NC · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Pilot Mountain, 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.
Regular Gas
$13.14 one way
$26.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.36 | $28.73 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.55 | $31.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.55 | $37.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.76 | $5.38 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Concord on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Pilot Mountain on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
49°F
Midway, NC
42 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
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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Concord, NC or browse trips ending in Pilot Mountain, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
