Origin
Green Level, NC
Late night in Green Level on Thursday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Green Level, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
48.5 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Green Level, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Green Level, NC to Cary, NC covers 48.5 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, North Harrison Avenue, Trollingwood Hawfields Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.58 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
24.3 miles from Green Level, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 48.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and North Harrison Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.9 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 38.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Harrison Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hilldale Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Hilldale Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Greenway Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (Trollingwood Hawfields Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hilldale Street
Turn left onto Hilldale Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Greenway Street
Turn right onto Greenway Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Trollingwood Hawfields Road
Turn right onto Trollingwood Hawfields Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
16.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
6
45.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Cary
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 38.9 mi | 44m |
| North Harrison Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Trollingwood Hawfields Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Stone Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Roxboro Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North NC 49 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Wilkins Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Greenway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 38.9 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Green Level, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Evergreen Avenue
180 ft
·
13 sec
·
Evergreen Avenue
2
Turn left onto Hilldale Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hilldale Street
3
Turn left onto Pinebrook Drive
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Pinebrook Drive
4
Turn right onto Greenway Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Greenway Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto NC 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North NC 49
6
Continue on NC 49
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Roxboro Street
7
Turn left onto Bason Road
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bason Road
8
Turn right onto North Wilkins Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wilkins Road
9
Continue on Trollingwood Road
449 ft
·
15 sec
·
Trollingwood Road
10
Turn left onto Stone Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Stone Street
11
Turn right onto Trollingwood Hawfields Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Trollingwood Hawfields Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 85
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 40; I 85
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cary
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto SR 1652
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
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 24.3 miles from Green Level, NC, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.9 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 11 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.3 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
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 Green Level, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Green Level, NC
This is one driving day of about 48.5 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Green Level, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 38.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.3 mi from Green Level, NC · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Green Level, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.29 | $16.59 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.98 | $17.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Cary on Thursday
Local time
12:18 AM
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
3 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 4m 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 Green Level, NC to Cary, NC covers 48.5 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, North Harrison Avenue, Trollingwood Hawfields 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 24.3 miles from Green Level, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.58 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 48.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Hilldale Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Greenway Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (Trollingwood Hawfields Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Green Level, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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