The drive from Pinehurst, NC to Concord, NC covers 82.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NC 73, Hickory Boulevard, NC 16 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on NC 73.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.92 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
41.3 miles from Pinehurst, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 82.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Pinehurst, NC to Concord, NC covers 82.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m, 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 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NC 73 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 82.6 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 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.1 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, Huntersville
6
55.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|NC 73
Turn right onto NC 73
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit 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 slight right lane.
Exit 58
Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord...
8
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork 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 right lane.
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, Down...
7
82.6 mi into trip|~2h 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 Pinehurst, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Huntersville along the way.
Huntersville
54.8 mi in|~1h 18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 73
21.6 mi
33m
Hickory Boulevard
20.2 mi
27m
NC 16
17.3 mi
22m
Southwest Boulevard
4.3 mi
6m
Morganton Boulevard Southwest
3.6 mi
5m
Smyre Farm Road
3.2 mi
4m
NC 10
3.1 mi
5m
Church Street North
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NC 73
— 21.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinehurst, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Turtle Dove Street
484 ft·23 sec·Turtle Dove Street
2
Turn right onto Calico Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Calico Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 64; NC 18
3.6 mi·5 min·Morganton Boulevard Southwest
4
Turn straight
270 ft·9 sec
5
Turn straight onto Southwest Boulevard
4.3 mi·6 min·Southwest Boulevard
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Merge onto US 321
20 mi·27 min·Hickory Boulevard
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward NC 10: Newton
9
Turn left onto NC 10
3.1 mi·5 min·NC 10
10
Turn sharp right onto Sigmon Dairy Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Sigmon Dairy Road
11
Turn left onto McKay Road
1.6 mi·2 min·McKay Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 321 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 321 Business
13
Turn right onto Smyre Farm Road
3.2 mi·4 min·Smyre Farm Road
14
Turn right onto NC 16
17 mi·22 min·NC 16
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward NC 73: Lincolnton, HuntersvilleUse the right lane.
16
Turn right onto NC 73
22 mi·33 min·NC 73
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 85 North: Salisbury
18
Merge onto I 85
2.1 mi·2 min·I 85
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 58Toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord, DowntownUse the right lane.
21
Merge onto US 29; US 601
0.6 mi·47 sec·Concord Parkway North
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn straight onto Church Street North
2.2 mi·4 min·Church Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Turn right onto Cabarrus Avenue West
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cabarrus Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Spring Street Southwest
409 ft·11 sec·Spring Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
25
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 41.3 miles from Pinehurst, NC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 1h 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 42m
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 Pinehurst, 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 Pinehurst, NC
This is one driving day of about 82.6 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Pinehurst, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 73 for about 21.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.3 mi from Pinehurst, NC
· 1h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.92 one way
$25.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.12
$28.25
premium
$4.70
$15.29
$30.58
diesel
$5.61
$18.24
$36.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.67
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.23
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.56
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Pinehurst, NC
Morning
in Pinehurst on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
N 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
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
2h 2m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pinehurst, NC to Concord, NC covers 82.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NC 73, Hickory Boulevard, NC 16. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.3 miles from Pinehurst, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.92 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 82.6 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 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.1 miles (NC 73): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Pinehurst, NC to Concord, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Huntersville along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
