Origin
Southern Pines, NC
Afternoon in Southern Pines on Thursday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southern Pines, NC to Cary, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
61.6 mi
99 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Pines, NC
Alex Borelli
Cary, NC
C k
Trip Overview
The drive from Southern Pines, NC to Cary, NC covers 61.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 1, North Sandhills Boulevard, Kildaire Farm Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.9 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 61.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 61.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 1 and North Sandhills Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.9 miles on US 1.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 41.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and North Sandhills Boulevard. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles (US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard
Merge onto US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
56.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Tryon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Tryon Road
4
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Kildaire Farm Road
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
South Academy Street
Turn right onto South Academy Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 41.9 mi | 47m |
| North Sandhills Boulevard | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| Kildaire Farm Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Tryon Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Academy Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Academy Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 41.9 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Pines, NC and Cary, NC.
1
Start on West Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
3
Merge onto US 1
14 mi
·
17 min
·
North Sandhills Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge onto US 1
42 mi
·
47 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Tryon Road
7
Turn straight onto Tryon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tryon Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Kildaire Farm Road
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Kildaire Farm Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto South Academy Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Academy Street
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
North Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.8 mi from Southern Pines, NC · 38m 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Southern Pines, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.63 one way
$19.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.53 | $21.07 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.40 | $22.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.60 | $27.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
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
Afternoon in Cary on Thursday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Sanford, NC
31 mi in
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
1 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 18m 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 Southern Pines, NC to Cary, NC covers 61.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, North Sandhills Boulevard, Kildaire Farm Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.8 miles from Southern Pines, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.63 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles (US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Southern Pines, NC to Cary, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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