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Trip from Edenton, NC to Concord, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 26m

Distance

278.2 mi

448 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 13m ★
6 AM
5h 27m
8 AM
5h 54m
10 AM
5h 36m
12 PM
5h 33m
3 PM
5h 38m
5 PM
5h 52m
8 PM
5h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States

Edenton, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in North Carolina, United States

Concord, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Edenton, NC to Concord, NC covers 278.2 miles and takes about 5h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 85, US 13, Ocean Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.6 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.50 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

139.1 miles from Edenton, 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 26m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 26m highway drive covering 278.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 85 and US 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.6 miles on I 85.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 102.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 24 significant decision points across 278.2 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 121.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 209 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.6 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 24 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
121.9 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
8
209 mi into trip | ~4h 9m in | US 29

Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
8
274.6 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in | US 601

Take the exit onto US 601 toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown

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 58 Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
274.8 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in | US 601

Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downt...
7
278.1 mi into trip | ~5h 26m in | Spring Street Southwest

Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 85 102.6 mi 1h 53m
US 13 56.5 mi 1h 1m
Ocean Highway 35.2 mi 44m
US 64 Bypass 27.8 mi 29m
Northern Wake Expressway 15.4 mi 16m
South Miami Boulevard 9.3 mi 12m
I 40 7.7 mi 9m
US 29 5.4 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 85 — 102.6 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edenton, NC and Concord, 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

28 mi · 29 min · US 64 Bypass
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
10

Keep slight right at fork

309 ft · 7 sec
Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
11

Turn right onto Rolesville Road

2.4 mi · 4 min · Rolesville Road
12

Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Marks Creek Road
13

Turn right onto Horton Road

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Horton Road
14

Turn right onto Buffaloe Road

3.8 mi · 6 min · Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 23 sec
16

Merge onto I 540

15 mi · 16 min · Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 70 West: Durham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto US 70

1.9 mi · 2 min · Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on US 70

2.5 mi · 3 min · New Raleigh Highway
20

Continue on US 70

9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70

42 mi · 48 min · I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23

Keep slight left at fork onto US 29

5.4 mi · 5 min · US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte Use the left lane.
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit onto US 601

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 601
Exit 58 Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork onto US 601

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown Use the left lane.
27

Turn straight onto Church Street North

2.2 mi · 4 min · Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
28

Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest

409 ft · 11 sec · Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
30

Arrive at destination

Spring Street Southwest

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 139.1 miles from Edenton, NC, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.1 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, 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 278.2 miles and 5h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 I 85 for about 102.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.1 mi from Edenton, NC · 2h 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Durham, NC

139 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

Rocky Mount, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Raleigh, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.1 miles from Edenton, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.6 miles.

Arriving in Concord, NC

The final approach into Concord, 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 Concord, NC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.50 one way

$87.01 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $47.57 $95.14
premium $4.70 $51.49 $102.98
diesel $5.61 $61.42 $122.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Tesla Supercharger

Mebane, North Carolina

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Mebane, North Carolina

Tesla

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Raleigh, North Carolina

EVgo

1 DCFC

Universal Charging Station

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Other

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Mebane, North Carolina

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Haw River, North Carolina

EVgo

1 DCFC

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Other

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Blink

1 DCFC

Other: 6 ChargePoint: 3 Tesla: 2 EVgo: 2 Blink: 2 Tesla Destination: 1 InCharge: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.5 1 $29.21 $13.35
Efficient EV 69.6 0 $24.34 $11.13
EV Truck/SUV 111.3 1 $38.95 $17.80

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Edenton, NC

Afternoon in Edenton on Thursday

Local time

2:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, NC

Afternoon in Concord on Thursday

Local time

2:36 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

2 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

5h 26m 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 Edenton, NC to Concord, NC covers 278.2 miles and takes about 5h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 85, US 13, 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 139.1 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 $43.50 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 24 significant decision points across 278.2 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 121.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 209 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.6 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Edenton, NC to Concord, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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