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Trip from Maine, NC to Concord, NC

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

42.9 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Maine, NC, NC

Maine, NC

Mohan Nannapaneni

city in North Carolina, United States

Concord, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Maine, NC to Concord, NC covers 42.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 601, Salisbury Road, Jake Alexander Boulevard North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.3 miles on US 601. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.71 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

21.5 miles from Maine, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Maine, NC to Concord, NC covers 42.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m, 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 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 601 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.3 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 17.1 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
17.1 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North

Turn right onto US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
9
23.1 mi into trip | ~38m in | US 601

Take the exit onto US 601 toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte

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. Toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte
8
39.4 mi into trip | ~55m 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
39.6 mi into trip | ~56m 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...
7
42.8 mi into trip | ~1h 2m 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 Maine, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Concord Downtown along the way.

Concord Downtown

39.4 mi in | ~55m | via US 601

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 601 17.3 mi 19m
Salisbury Road 13.3 mi 20m
Jake Alexander Boulevard North 6 mi 9m
US 158 3.8 mi 7m
Church Street North 2.2 mi 4m
Cabarrus Avenue West 0.2 mi <1m
Spring Street Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
Oak Grove Church Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 601 — 17.3 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Concord, NC.

1

Start on Oak Grove Church Road

48 ft · 8 sec · Oak Grove Church Road
2

Turn left onto US 158

3.8 mi · 7 min · US 158
3

Continue on US 601

13 mi · 20 min · Salisbury Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn right onto US 601

6.0 mi · 9 min · Jake Alexander Boulevard North
Use the straight lane.
5

Take the exit onto US 601

16 mi · 17 min · US 601
Toward I 85 South, US 601 South: Charlotte Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

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.
7

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.
8

Turn straight onto Church Street North

2.2 mi · 4 min · Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest

409 ft · 11 sec · Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
11

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 21.5 miles from Maine, NC, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.3 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 42.9 miles or 1h 3m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 21.5 miles or 35m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 52m

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 Maine, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Maine, NC

This is one driving day of about 42.9 miles and 1h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maine, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 601 for about 17.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.5 mi from Maine, NC · 35m into the drive

Downtown Cornelius, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cornelius, NC

21 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

Cornelius, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cornelius, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Maine, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Concord, NC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.71 one way

$13.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $7.34 $14.67
premium $4.70 $7.94 $15.88
diesel $5.61 $9.47 $18.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.9 0 $4.50 $2.06
Efficient EV 10.7 0 $3.75 $1.72
EV Truck/SUV 17.2 0 $6.01 $2.75

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Maine, NC

Night in Maine on Tuesday

Local time

9:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, NC

Night in Concord on Tuesday

Local time

9:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1 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 3m 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 Maine, NC to Concord, NC covers 42.9 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 601, Salisbury Road, Jake Alexander Boulevard North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.5 miles from Maine, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.71 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 42.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 17.1 miles (US 601 / Jake Alexander Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Maine, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Concord Downtown along the way.

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