The drive from Fairplains, NC to Concord, NC covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 77, US 421 Business, Landis Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.5 miles on I 77.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.12 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.
Midpoint
42 miles from Fairplains, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 83.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Fairplains, NC to Concord, NC covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 54m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 83.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
22.6 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
5
23.1 mi into trip|~30m in|I 77
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 21, NC 115: Troutman
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 42
Toward US 21, NC 115: Troutman
6
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Fairplains, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
Charlotte
22.6 mi in|~29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
31.5 mi
35m
US 421 Business
17 mi
19m
Landis Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Charlotte Highway
4.2 mi
6m
North Enochville Avenue
3.8 mi
5m
Statesville Road
3 mi
5m
West C Street
2.5 mi
4m
Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 31.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairplains, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on NC 18
1.5 mi·2 min·Sparta Road
2
Continue on NC 18
1.0 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
Turn left onto US 421 Business; NC 115
3.0 mi·5 min·Statesville Road
4
Take the ramp onto US 421 Business
17 mi·19 min·US 421 Business
Toward US 421 South: Winston-Salem
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 77 South: Statesville, Charlotte
6
Merge onto I 77
32 mi·35 min·I 77
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 42Toward US 21, NC 115: TroutmanUse the right lane.
8
Turn right onto US 21; NC 115
4.2 mi·6 min·Charlotte Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on NC 115
0.9 mi·1 min·Statesville Highway
10
Turn left onto Mazeppa Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Mazeppa Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Overhead Bridge Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Overhead Bridge Road
12
Turn left onto NC 150
1.9 mi·3 min·Oak Ridge Farm Highway
13
Continue on NC 150; NC 152
0.3 mi·30 sec·Oakridge Farm Highway
14
Turn right onto NC 152
5.3 mi·7 min·Landis Highway
15
Turn right onto Deal Road
0.7 mi·57 sec·Deal Road
16
Turn left onto North Enochville Avenue
3.8 mi·5 min·North Enochville Avenue
17
Turn left onto West C Street
2.5 mi·4 min·West C Street
18
Turn right onto Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
2.5 mi·4 min·Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto US 29
2.1 mi·3 min·South Cannon Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 29; US 601
0.8 mi·1 min·Concord Parkway North
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi·4 min·Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
24
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 42 miles from Fairplains, NC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.5 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 52m 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 32m
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 Fairplains, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairplains, NC
This is one driving day of about 83.9 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Fairplains, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 77 for about 31.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42 mi from Fairplains, NC
· 52m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.12 one way
$26.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.35
$28.69
premium
$4.70
$15.53
$31.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.52
$37.05
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: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.34
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Fairplains, NC
Late night
in Fairplains on Saturday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 17 at 11:32AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Concord, NC
Late night
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
WNW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 17 at 11:32AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
6 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 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fairplains, NC to Concord, NC covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, US 421 Business, Landis Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42 miles from Fairplains, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.12 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 83.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fairplains, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
