Trip from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

81.6 mi

131 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

Spanning 81.6 miles, this drive from Enfield to Cary takes approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $13 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit. By utilizing a combination of Glenview Road and US 64, you will navigate through the Southeast region of North Carolina. Since there are no mandatory stops required, this route is ideal for travelers looking for a direct and efficient connection between these two points.

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

40.8 miles from Enfield, NC

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

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local roads, meaning your highway share is essentially zero percent. Because the longest stretch of road is on Glenview Road, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns rather than settling into a long, straight cruise. The character of this drive is best described as a series of local transitions that keep the pace engaging. You should prepare for a varied driving experience that rewards those who prefer backroads over high-speed highway travel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Glenview Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Glenview Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 64	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 64 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dan K Moore Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
NC 54	Unavailable	Refreshing
Chapel Hill Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Academy Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Glenview Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Enfield, NC and Cary, NC.

Start on Whitfield Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Whitfield Street

Turn straight onto Glenview Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Glenview Road

At the end of the road, turn right

4.3 mi · 6 min

Take the ramp left

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Merge slight left

14 mi · 15 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Nashville, Rocky Mount, Raleigh

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 64: Nashville, Rocky Mount, Raleigh

Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Nashville, Raleigh

1.0 mi · 2 min · US 64 West: Nashville, Raleigh

Merge slight right

45 mi · 48 min

Merge slight left

2.7 mi · 3 min

Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

3.2 mi · 3 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway

2.7 mi · 3 min · Dan K Moore Freeway

Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway

3.1 mi · 3 min · Dan K Moore Freeway

Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Cary

0.2 mi · 29 sec · NC 54: Cary

Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

2.2 mi · 3 min · Chapel Hill Road

Turn right onto North Academy Street

23 ft · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 17 minutes, you have significant flexibility in your departure time. Since the trip is direct and requires no stops, you can easily complete it in one go without needing to build in long rest breaks. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local route, it is best to plan your drive during daylight hours to better navigate the local intersections. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to double-check your GPS before leaving Enfield, as the reliance on Glenview Road and various local connections means paying close attention to navigation cues is essential for a smooth arrival in Cary.

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 40.8 miles from Enfield, NC, or about 38m into the drive.

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 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.8 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 6m

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 Enfield, 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 Enfield, NC

This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Enfield, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.8 mi from Enfield, NC · 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raleigh, NC

41 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.

Popular next leg

Raleigh, NC to Cary, NC

11.7 mi · 14m

Pacing Suggestions

Apex, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Raleigh, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Enfield, 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

$13.06 one way

$26.12 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$14.23	$28.46
premium	$4.78	$15.35	$30.70
diesel	$5.64	$18.13	$36.26

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: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	24.5	$8.57	$3.92
Efficient EV	20.4	$7.14	$3.26
EV Truck/SUV	32.6	$11.42	$5.22

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Enfield, NC

Afternoon in Enfield on Sunday

Local time

2:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cary, NC

Afternoon in Cary on Sunday

Local time

2:30 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 17m 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 Enfield, NC to Cary, NC covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Glenview Road, US 64, US 64 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.8 miles from Enfield, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.06 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.

The drive from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Enfield, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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