Origin
Four Oaks, NC
Evening in Four Oaks on Thursday
Local time
8:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Four Oaks, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Four Oaks, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
This straightforward 40.4-mile drive from Four Oaks, NC, to Cary, NC, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 51 minutes. The journey is primarily highway-focused, with about 74% of the route utilizing interstates, making it a quick and efficient trip. Budget around $6 for fuel, which is quite reasonable for this short distance. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of North Carolina, experiencing a direct connection between two familiar points. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-oriented, with 74% of the 40.4 miles on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the main roads include I-40, Lassiter Road, and Black Creek Road, the overall profile leans heavily towards interstate travel. This means you'll experience a more direct, less varied driving experience, prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 27.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Lassiter Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 40.4 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 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
6
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
37.9 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
5
38.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
40.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
North Academy Street
Turn right onto North Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 27.6 mi | 30m |
| Lassiter Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Black Creek Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| NC 210 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Hatcher Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Baker Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Wellons Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 27.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Four Oaks, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on US 301
328 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Wellons Street
2
Turn right onto North Baker Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Baker Street
3
Turn left onto East Hatcher Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hatcher Street
4
Continue on Black Creek Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Black Creek Road
5
Turn left onto Lassiter Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Lassiter Road
6
Turn left onto NC 210
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 210
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 40
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 40
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
22 mi
·
25 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.2 mi from Four Oaks, NC · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Four Oaks, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cary, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cary, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.48 | $14.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Evening in Cary on Thursday
Local time
8:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
51m 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 Four Oaks, NC to Cary, NC covers 40.4 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Lassiter Road, Black Creek Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.2 miles from Four Oaks, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.32 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 40.4 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 10 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Four Oaks, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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