Origin
King, NC
Late night in King on Friday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from King, NC to Concord, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
King, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 73.8-mile drive from King, NC to Concord, NC will take you approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. Primarily utilizing highways, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip with an estimated fuel cost of $12. You'll remain within the Southeast region throughout your journey, experiencing a consistent driving environment. Given its efficiency and manageable distance, this road trip is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated transit between these two North Carolina locations, requiring no overnight stops.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this journey, with 94% of your travel occurring on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.5 miles along the John Gold Memorial Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While predominantly highway, the route does incorporate sections of I-85 and Church Street North, providing a mix of high-speed travel and slightly more localized road segments. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering extensive 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 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John Gold Memorial Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles (US 601): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
8
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
US 601
Take the exit onto US 601 toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
US 601
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downt...
6
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
Cabarrus Avenue West
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Spring Street Southwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 39.5 mi | 45m |
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| Church Street North | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 601 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cabarrus Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 39.5 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between King, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto US 52
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
36 mi
·
41 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 85; US 52
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 601
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 601
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 601
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.9 mi from King, NC · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from King, 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
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.62 | $25.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.66 | $27.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Concord, NC
Late night in Concord on Friday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Midway, NC
37 mi in
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
4 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 28m 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 King, NC to Concord, NC covers 73.8 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Gold Memorial Expressway, I 85, Church Street North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.9 miles from King, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.54 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 73.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles (US 601): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from King, NC to Concord, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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