Origin
Red Oak, NC
Evening in Red Oak on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Oak, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
Traveling from Red Oak to Cary covers 62.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes. This straightforward trip is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, as it remains entirely within North Carolina’s Southeast region. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the journey, making it a very economical commute. By utilizing the US 64 Bypass and the Dan K Moore Freeway, you avoid the need for complex detours or overnight stops. Whether you are heading to the Research Triangle area for business or pleasure, this route offers a reliable and efficient connection between these two points.
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
31.1 miles from Red Oak, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 87% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. The drive features a significant 41.5-mile stretch along the US 64 Bypass, which allows you to maintain a steady pace for the majority of the trip. While you will navigate local connections like Red Oak Road, the character of the journey is dominated by efficient, multi-lane thoroughfares. You won't find yourself dealing with technical, winding backroads, as the route is engineered for speed and directness. It is a functional drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal interruption.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Red Oak Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Red Oak Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 54 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chapel Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Academy Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Red Oak Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Red Oak Boulevard
49 ft
·
5 sec
·
Red Oak Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Red Oak Road
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Red Oak Road
3
Take the ramp slight right
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
4
Merge slight left
42 mi
·
44 min
5
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
6
Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
7
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
8
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
9
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Cary
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
NC 54: Cary
11
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
12
Turn right onto North Academy Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Academy Street
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for potential traffic patterns when entering the Cary area. With no mandatory stops required to cover the 62.3 miles, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks. If you want to keep your travel costs low, ensure your tank is topped off, as the $10 fuel estimate assumes a standard vehicle efficiency. Pay close attention to the transition from the US 64 Bypass to the Dan K Moore Freeway, as keeping a steady eye on your navigation will ensure you stay on the most efficient path. This route is all about speed and convenience, so use that to your advantage when scheduling your day.
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 31.1 miles from Red Oak, NC, or about 36m into the drive.
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 62.3 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.1 miles or 36m 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 2m
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 Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, NC
This is one driving day of about 62.3 miles and 1h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Oak, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.1 mi from Red Oak, NC · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 62.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Red Oak, 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
$9.74 one way
$19.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.65 | $21.30 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.53 | $23.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Evening in Cary on Tuesday
Local time
7:15 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
2 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 13m 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 Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC covers 62.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Red Oak Road, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, Dan K Moore Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.1 miles from Red Oak, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.74 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.
The drive from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Red Oak, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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