Origin
Saint Stephens, NC
Late night in Saint Stephens on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
164.7 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC covers 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kool Park Road Northeast, Springs Road Northeast, Section House Road Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.76 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
82.3 miles from Saint Stephens, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 17m drive with frequent turns across 164.7 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.
Kool Park Road Northeast 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 Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 3h 17m 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 Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kool Park Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Springs Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Section House Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cary | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Harrison Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chapel Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Kool Park Road Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Stephens, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on Kool Park Mhp
249 ft
·
13 sec
·
Kool Park Mhp
2
Turn right onto Kool Park Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Kool Park Road Northeast
3
Turn right onto Springs Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Springs Road Northeast
4
Turn left onto Section House Road Northeast
3.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Section House Road Northeast
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto West 1st Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge slight left
81 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
9
Merge slight right
1.8 mi
·
2 min
10
Keep slight left
37 mi
·
42 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 40 East: Raleigh
12
Take the exit slight right toward Cary
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Cary
13
Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Harrison Avenue
14
Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Chapel Hill Road
15
Turn left onto North Academy Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Academy Street
16
Arrive at your destination
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 82.3 miles from Saint Stephens, NC, or about 1h 38m 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 38m 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 42m
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 Saint Stephens, 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 Saint Stephens, NC
This is one driving day of about 164.7 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Stephens, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.3 mi from Saint Stephens, NC · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 82.3 miles from Saint Stephens, 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
$25.76 one way
$51.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.16 | $56.32 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.48 | $60.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.36 | $72.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.29 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.41 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.06 | $10.54 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Late night in Cary on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 AM
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
5 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 17m 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 Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC covers 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kool Park Road Northeast, Springs Road Northeast, Section House Road Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.3 miles from Saint Stephens, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.76 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.
The drive from Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC is easy. At 3h 17m 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 Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Stephens, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Cary, NC
Explore more options from Saint Stephens, NC or browse trips ending in Cary, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Saint Stephens, NC or Cary, NC on MapSof.net.