Origin
Concord, NC
Evening in Concord on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Concord, NC to Thurmond, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
85.6 mi
138 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Thurmond, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This 85.6-mile drive from Concord, NC to Thurmond, NC takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on highways, covering 78% of the route on them, so expect a relatively quick journey. With an estimated fuel cost of around $13, this trip is budget-friendly. The route stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward connection between two North Carolina points. Given its short duration and highway focus, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with a substantial 78% of the 85.6 miles taking place on interstates and major roads like I-77 North. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 57 miles on I-77 North, allowing for consistent progress. While the majority is highway, the route also incorporates sections of US 21 BYP and Davidson Highway, offering a slight variation in pace and road type. Expect a practical, efficient journey rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-77 North and US 21 BYP. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 12 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.
8
76 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
US 21 BYP
Keep slight left at fork onto US 21 BYP toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap
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 Thurmond, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Roaring Gap along the way.
Roaring Gap
76 mi in
|
~1h 34m
|
via US 21 BYP
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-77 North | 57 mi | 1h 4m |
| US 21 BYP | 9 mi | 12m |
| Davidson Highway | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Sam Furr Road | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Church Street Northeast | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 77 North | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Thurmond Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Concord Parkway North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I-77 North
— 57 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Thurmond, 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
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 21 BYP
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
US 21 BYP
Toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto North Center Church Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Center Church Road
15
Turn left onto Thurmond Road
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Thurmond Road
16
Turn right onto Billings Lane
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
Billings Lane
17
Arrive at destination
Billings Lane
Trip Plan
Leaving Concord, NC in the morning will allow you to reach Thurmond, NC with plenty of daylight. Since this drive is under two hours and covers 85.6 miles, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. The longest stretch of 57 miles on I-77 North means you can easily make up time, but keep an eye out for potential traffic as you approach urban areas. With a fuel cost estimate of just $13, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops on this short trip.
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 42.8 miles from Concord, NC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thurmond, 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 85.6 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.8 mi from Concord, NC · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Concord, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thurmond, NC
The final approach into Thurmond, 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
$13.39 one way
$26.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.64 | $29.27 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.84 | $31.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.90 | $37.80 |
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: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.98 | $5.48 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Thurmond, NC
Evening in Thurmond on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
1h 49m 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 Thurmond, NC covers 85.6 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I-77 North, US 21 BYP, 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 42.8 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 $13.39 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 85.6 miles you will encounter 12 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.
On the drive from Concord, NC to Thurmond, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Roaring Gap along the way.
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