Origin
Hillsborough, NC
Night in Hillsborough on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
112 mi
180 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC covers 112 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Churton Street, I 85 South, I 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.51 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
56 miles from Hillsborough, 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 44m. Total distance: 112 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 44m drive with frequent turns across 112 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Churton Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC is easy. At 1h 44m 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 Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Churton Street | — | — |
| I 85 South | — | — |
| I 85 | — | — |
| US 29 | — | — |
| US 29 South | — | — |
| Church Street North | — | — |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | — | — |
| Spring Street Southwest | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Churton Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on West King Street
95 ft
·
8 sec
·
West King Street
2
Turn right onto South Churton Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Churton Street
3
Take the ramp right toward I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 85 South, NC 86 North: Greensboro
4
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
37 min
5
Keep slight right
7.7 mi
·
9 min
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
7
Keep slight left
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
9
Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
10
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
11
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
12
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
410 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
13
Arrive at your destination
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 56 miles from Hillsborough, NC, or about 52m 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 25 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 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 25m
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 Hillsborough, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hillsborough, NC
This is one driving day of about 112 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Hillsborough, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56 mi from Hillsborough, NC · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56 miles from Hillsborough, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.51 one way
$35.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.15 | $38.30 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.73 | $41.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.73 | $49.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.76 | $5.38 |
| Efficient EV | 28 | 0 | $9.80 | $4.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.68 | $7.17 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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
Concord, NC
Night in Concord on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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 Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC covers 112 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Churton Street, I 85 South, I 85. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56 miles from Hillsborough, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.51 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 Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC is easy. At 1h 44m 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 Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hillsborough, NC to Concord, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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