Origin
Monroe, NC
Afternoon in Monroe on Tuesday
Local time
1:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monroe, NC to Cary, NC
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h
Distance
137.5 mi
221 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Monroe, NC to Cary, NC covers 137.5 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Fayetteville Road, US 1, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.4 miles on Fayetteville Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.17 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.8 miles from Monroe, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Monroe, NC to Cary, NC covers 137.5 miles and takes about 3h, 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 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Fayetteville Road is the longest continuous segment at about 43.4 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Franklin Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 137.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (East Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (US 74 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47 miles (US 1 / Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Franklin Street
Turn left onto East Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
9
40.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 74 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 BUS toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business Ea...
6
47 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
US 1 / Fayetteville Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 1 / Fayetteville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
90.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
137 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right 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 Monroe, NC to Cary, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheboro along the way.
Asheboro
40.7 mi in
|
~59m
|
via US 74 BUS
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville Road | 43.4 mi | 52m |
| US 1 | 41.9 mi | 47m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 15.6 mi | 21m |
| W. Cliff Martin Highway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| US 74 BUS | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Kildaire Farm Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| West Marshville Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Carroll M. Edwards Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Fayetteville Road
— 43.4 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on NC 207
276 ft
·
6 sec
·
Skyway Drive
2
Continue on NC 207
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Hayne Street
3
Turn left onto East Franklin Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto US 74; US 601
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Roosevelt Boulevard
5
Continue on US 74
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 74
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Marshville Boulevard
7
Continue on US 74
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
8
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
W. Cliff Martin Highway
10
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salisbury Street
11
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Caswell Street
12
Continue on US 74
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 BUS
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 74 BUS
Exit 306
Toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto West Green Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Green Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
43 mi
·
52 min
·
Fayetteville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
17
Merge onto US 1
42 mi
·
47 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
19
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
22
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.8 miles from Monroe, NC, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
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 Monroe, 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 Monroe, NC
This is one driving day of about 137.5 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monroe, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Fayetteville Road for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.8 mi from Monroe, NC · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.8 miles from Monroe, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cary, 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
$23.17 one way
$46.35 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $25.25 | $50.50 |
| premium | $4.78 | $27.24 | $54.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.17 | $64.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.44 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.03 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.25 | $8.80 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Cary, NC
Afternoon in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
1:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
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
3h 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 Monroe, NC to Cary, NC covers 137.5 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Fayetteville Road, US 1, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.8 miles from Monroe, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 137.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (East Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (US 74 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47 miles (US 1 / Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Monroe, NC to Cary, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheboro along the way.
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