The drive from Concord, NC to Piney Green, NC covers 241.3 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, NC 49, Jordan Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.73 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
120.6 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 241.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 13m highway drive covering 241.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and NC 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.4 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 49. 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 Corban Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 241.3 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 (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 84.1 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Corban Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
6
84.1 mi into trip|~2h in|US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward NC 540 Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll South
8
129 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
6
241.3 mi into trip|~5h 12m in|NC 24 / Freedom Way
At end of road, turn uturn onto NC 24 / Freedom Way
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
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 Piney Green, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Kenansville.
Wilmington
130.7 mi in|~2h 55m|via I 40
Kenansville
190.3 mi in|~3h 59m|via NC 24
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
60.4 mi
1h 4m
NC 49
41.1 mi
54m
Jordan Road
24.3 mi
35m
Triangle Expressway
22 mi
23m
US 64
21 mi
27m
NC 111
14.4 mi
21m
Richard K. Pugh Highway
7.1 mi
10m
Jackson Store Road
6.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 60.4 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Piney Green, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·21 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·24 sec·Corban Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on NC 73
3.9 mi·6 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on NC 73
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 73
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto NC 49
41 mi·53 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NC 49
0.2 mi·38 sec·NC 49
8
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·West Dixie Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
7.1 mi·10 min·Richard K. Pugh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 64; NC 49
24 mi·35 min·Jordan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
21 mi·27 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll SouthUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
22 mi·23 min·Triangle Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
15
Merge onto I 40
0.8 mi·53 sec·I 40
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland RdUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 40
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
18
Take the exit onto NC 24
0.3 mi·47 sec·NC 24
Toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
19
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
4.1 mi·5 min·South Kenansville Bypass
20
Turn right onto D S Williams Road
0.9 mi·1 min·D S Williams Road
21
Turn right onto NC 50
5.1 mi·6 min·NC 50
22
Turn left onto Hallsville Road
4.4 mi·5 min·Hallsville Road
23
Turn right onto SR 1800
6.3 mi·8 min·Jackson Store Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto NC 111
14 mi·21 min·NC 111
25
Merge onto US 258; NC 24
5.0 mi·7 min·Richlands Highway
26
Continue on NC 24; NC 53
3.0 mi·3 min·NC 24; NC 53
27
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
0.4 mi·28 sec·Louis W. Sewell, Jr. Bridge
28
Continue on US 17; NC 24; I 97
1.3 mi·1 min·Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 24; NC 53; I 397
0.6 mi·48 sec·Ronald W. Reagan Freeway
30
Merge onto NC 24; NC 53
5.2 mi·8 min·Lejeune Boulevard
31
Turn left onto Piney Green Road
309 ft·9 sec·Piney Green Road
32
Turn right
39 ft·5 sec
33
Turn right
264 ft·21 sec
34
At end of road, turn uturn onto NC 24
171 ft·7 sec·Freedom Way
35
Arrive at destination
NC 24
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.6 miles from Concord, NC, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.4 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 53 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.6 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Piney Green, 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 241.3 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 60.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.6 mi from Concord, NC
· 2h 44m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.4
0
$25.34
$11.58
Efficient EV
60.3
0
$21.11
$9.65
EV Truck/SUV
96.5
1
$33.78
$15.44
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Night
in Concord on Thursday
Local time
11:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Piney Green, NC
Night
in Piney Green on Thursday
Local time
11:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
29 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
5h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Piney Green, NC covers 241.3 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, NC 49, Jordan Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.6 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 $37.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 241.3 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 (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 84.1 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Concord, NC and Piney Green, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Kenansville.
