Trip from Elizabeth City, NC to Concord, NC

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

61.6 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m

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

Downtown Elizabeth City, NC, NC

Elizabeth City, NC

Michael Ken

Downtown Concord, NC, NC

Concord, NC

C k

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabeth City, NC to Concord, NC covers 61.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Cameron Morrison Bridge, Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway, Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.4 miles on Cameron Morrison Bridge. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.86 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

30.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 20m drive with frequent turns across 61.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cameron Morrison Bridge is the longest continuous segment at about 18.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 miles (I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
12.4 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanbur...
8
12.5 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
5
13.3 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

Merge onto I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
49.4 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Take the exit toward Mallard Creek Church Road East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46A Toward Mallard Creek Church Road East
5
49.7 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | West Mallard Creek Church Road

Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Elizabeth City, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Charlotte and Mallard Creek Church Road East.

Spartanburg

12.4 mi in | ~16m

Charlotte

12.5 mi in | ~16m

Mallard Creek Church Road East

49.4 mi in | ~1h 1m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Cameron Morrison Bridge 18.4 mi 22m
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway 17.6 mi 21m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway 6.8 mi 7m
Concord Parkway South 6.7 mi 9m
North Tryon Street 2.2 mi 3m
Cabarrus Avenue West 2 mi 3m
Andrew Jackson Highway 1.8 mi 2m
East Dixon Boulevard 1.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Cameron Morrison Bridge — 18.4 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City, NC and Concord, NC.

1

Start on Crystal Lane

424 ft · 21 sec · Crystal Lane
2

Turn right onto NC 180

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Post Road
3

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Marion Street
4

Turn left onto US 74

1.6 mi · 1 min · East Dixon Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Continue on US 74

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
6

Continue on US 74

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 7 sec
Toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 85

18 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on I 85

18 mi · 22 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge
Use the none lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 46A Toward Mallard Creek Church Road East Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto West Mallard Creek Church Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Mallard Creek Church Road
Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto US 29

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Tryon Street
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 29

6.7 mi · 9 min · Concord Parkway South
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the right lane.
16

Enter roundabout onto Cabarrus Avenue West

156 ft · 3 sec · Cabarrus Avenue West
17

Continue on Cabarrus Avenue West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Cabarrus Avenue West
18

Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest

409 ft · 11 sec · Spring Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Arrive at destination

Spring Street Southwest

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 61.6 miles or 1h 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.8 miles or 38m 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 5m

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 Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC

This is one driving day of about 61.6 miles and 1h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth City, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Cameron Morrison Bridge for about 18.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.8 mi from Elizabeth City, NC · 38m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

31 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

Cornelius, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Belmont, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.86 one way

$19.72 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $10.74 $21.48
premium $4.78 $11.59 $23.18
diesel $5.64 $13.69 $27.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.47 $2.96
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.39 $2.46
EV Truck/SUV 24.6 0 $8.62 $3.94

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Elizabeth City, NC

Evening in Elizabeth City on Sunday

Local time

7:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, NC

Evening in Concord on Sunday

Local time

7:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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 20m 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Concord, NC covers 61.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cameron Morrison Bridge, Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway, Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.86 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 61.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.3 miles (I 85 / Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Elizabeth City, NC and Concord, NC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Charlotte and Mallard Creek Church Road East.

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