Origin
Oak Island, NC
Morning in Oak Island on Saturday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Island, NC to Cary, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
169.5 mi
273 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Island, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Island, NC to Cary, NC covers 169.5 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Michael Jordan Highway, I 40, I 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.51 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.7 miles from Oak Island, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 169.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 14m drive with frequent turns across 169.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 103.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near US 17 / Ocean Highway East.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 169.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (I 140): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Turn right onto US 17 / Ocean Highway East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 140
Take the exit onto I 140 toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
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 39
Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New...
6
40.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
6
144.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
167 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Cary
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 54: Cary
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oak Island, NC and Cary, NC, road signs point toward Jacksonville, New Bern, Wilmington and Raleigh.
Jacksonville
20.5 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 140
New Bern
20.5 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 140
Wilmington
40.2 mi in
|
~51m
Raleigh
40.5 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 103.3 mi | 1h 50m |
| I 40 | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| I 140 | 19.7 mi | 22m |
| Ocean Highway East | 8 mi | 10m |
| Midway Road Southeast | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| North Middleton Street | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Island, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on NC 906
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Middleton Avenue
2
Continue on NC 906
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Middleton Street
3
Continue on NC 906
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Midway Road Southeast
4
Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 906
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
5
Continue on US 17 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
7
Turn right onto US 17
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 140
20 mi
·
22 min
·
I 140
Exit 39
Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
11
Merge onto I 40
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
22 mi
·
25 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54: Cary
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto NC 54
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Academy Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Academy Street
Use the right lane.
16
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 84.7 miles from Oak Island, NC, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.3 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 miles or 1h 40m 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 38m
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 Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, NC
This is one driving day of about 169.5 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Oak Island, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 103.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.7 mi from Oak Island, NC · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.7 miles from Oak Island, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.3 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.51 one way
$53.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.98 | $57.96 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.37 | $62.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.42 | $74.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.80 | $8.14 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.83 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.73 | $10.85 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Morning in Cary on Saturday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
31 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
3h 14m 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 Oak Island, NC to Cary, NC covers 169.5 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, I 40, I 140. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.7 miles from Oak Island, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.51 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 is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 169.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (US 17 / Ocean Highway East): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (I 140): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Oak Island, NC and Cary, NC, road signs point toward Jacksonville, New Bern, Wilmington and Raleigh.
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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