Origin
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Friday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, NC to Southmont, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
56m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Southmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 42.2-mile drive from Concord, NC, to Southmont, NC, will take you about 56 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, easily manageable within a single day without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily be on US 601, with some time on Linwood-Southmont Road and I-85, making for a largely highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is a budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region. This route offers a simple and efficient way to travel between these two North Carolina towns.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 72% of the journey utilizing faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.3 miles along US 601, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. While I-85 provides interstate speeds, the route also incorporates local roads like Linwood-Southmont Road, suggesting a transition between quicker travel and more community-oriented stretches. This blend means you'll experience varying road personalities, from open highway cruising to more direct, local connections as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 601 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 601 and Linwood-Southmont Road. 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
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 601
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro
6
32.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
8
33 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward NC 47 West, NC 47 East: Hargrave Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 88
Toward NC 47 West, NC 47 East: Hargrave Road
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 Southmont, NC, road signs begin pointing toward High Point along the way.
High Point
32.1 mi in
|
~39m
|
via I 85
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 601 | 25.3 mi | 28m |
| Linwood-Southmont Road | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| I 85 | 4.7 mi | 4m |
| Church Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Old Linwood Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Hargrave Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 601
— 25.3 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Southmont, 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
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street Northeast
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 29; US 601
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Concord Parkway North
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 601
25 mi
·
28 min
·
US 601
Toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
0.9 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 85
Toward I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 88
Toward NC 47 West, NC 47 East: Hargrave Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto NC 47
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Hargrave Road
10
Continue on NC 47
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Linwood Road
11
Continue on NC 47
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Linwood-Southmont Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
13
Turn left onto West Holloway Church Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Holloway Church Road
14
Turn left onto NC 8
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 8
15
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.1 mi from Concord, NC · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southmont, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Southmont, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.60 one way
$13.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.22 | $14.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Southmont, NC
Late night in Southmont on Friday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
56m 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 Southmont, NC covers 42.2 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 601, Linwood-Southmont Road, I 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.1 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 $6.60 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 short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Southmont, NC, road signs begin pointing toward High Point along the way.
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