Origin
Edenton, NC
Afternoon in Edenton on Thursday
Local time
4:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edenton, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
148 mi
238 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edenton, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Edenton, NC to Cary, NC covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 13, US 64 Bypass, Ocean Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.5 miles on US 13. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.14 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74 miles from Edenton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 148 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 148 miles, with most of the trip on US 13 and US 64 Bypass. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.5 miles on US 13.
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.
US 13 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 13 and US 64 Bypass. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Queen Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 148 miles you will encounter 10 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 (East Queen Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 17 Business / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Queen Street
Turn left onto East Queen Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17 Business / Broad Street
Turn right onto US 17 Business / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 17 / Ocean Highway
Merge onto US 17 / Ocean Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
135.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
|
I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 54: Cary
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 13 | 56.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 64 Bypass | 38.9 mi | 41m |
| Ocean Highway | 35.2 mi | 44m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| I 87 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| West Albemarle Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 13
— 56.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edenton, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Court Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Court Street
2
Turn left onto East Queen Street
429 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Queen Street
3
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Broad Street
4
Turn left onto West Albemarle Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Albemarle Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
6
Merge onto US 17
35 mi
·
44 min
·
Ocean Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 13; US 64
8
Continue on US 64 Bypass
39 mi
·
41 min
·
US 64 Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
10
Merge onto I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
12
Continue on I 40; US 64
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
13
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Edenton, NC, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.5 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cary, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Edenton, 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 Edenton, NC
This is one driving day of about 148 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Edenton, 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 US 13 for about 56.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74 mi from Edenton, NC · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74 miles from Edenton, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cary, NC
The final approach into Cary, 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 Cary, 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
$23.14 one way
$46.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $25.31 | $50.61 |
| premium | $4.70 | $27.39 | $54.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.68 | $65.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.54 | $7.10 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.95 | $5.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.72 | $9.47 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Cary, NC
Afternoon in Cary on Thursday
Local time
4:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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 Edenton, NC to Cary, NC covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 13, US 64 Bypass, Ocean 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 74 miles from Edenton, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.14 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148 miles you will encounter 10 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 (East Queen Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 17 Business / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Edenton, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cary, NC
More from Edenton, NC
More trips to Cary, NC
Explore more options from Edenton, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Edenton, NC or Cary, NC on MapSof.net.