Surf City to Concord is 226.1 miles and takes about 4 hours 45 minutes via Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a pretty straightforward trip, mostly on main roads that make for steady progress. You'll likely find this route to be a practical choice if you need to get from the coast inland without much fuss. Consider this your reliable connector between two points in the Tar Heel State.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.1 miles from Surf City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Andrew Jackson Highway
86.5 mi
1h 44m
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
NC 742
24.9 mi
35m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
19.8 mi
21m
G R Kindley Freeway
14.4 mi
15m
US 17
14.2 mi
21m
US 601
9.6 mi
10m
NC 24
8.7 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Andrew Jackson Highway
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surf City, NC and Concord, NC.
1
Start on Roland Avenue
58 ft·2 sec·Roland Avenue
2
Turn right onto North New River Drive
256 ft·6 sec·North New River Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210
14 ft·0 sec·NC 50; NC 210
4
Continue on NC 50; NC 210
162 ft·4 sec·NC 50; NC 210
5
Turn straight onto NC 50; NC 210
0.8 mi·1 min·NC 50; NC 210
6
Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210
110 ft·2 sec·Roland Avenue
7
Continue on NC 50; NC 210
1.2 mi·2 min·Roland Avenue
8
Turn left onto NC 210
2.8 mi·4 min·NC 210
9
Continue on US 17; NC 210
6.0 mi·8 min·US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 17; NC 210
8.1 mi·12 min·US 17; NC 210
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on NC 140
20 mi·21 min·John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
13
Turn right onto US 74; US 76
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 74; NC 130
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
15
Continue on US 74
20 mi·23 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74
14 mi·15 min·G R Kindley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74
12 mi·14 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Exit 306BToward US 74 West: MonroeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 74
2.4 mi·4 min·East Caswell Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.7 mi·1 min·Salisbury Street
20
Continue on US 52; US 74; NC 742
0.4 mi·24 sec·W. Cliff Martin Highway
21
Turn right onto US 52; NC 742
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 52; NC 742
22
Continue on NC 742
25 mi·35 min·NC 742
23
Continue on NC 205
1.7 mi·3 min·NC 205
24
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
8.7 mi·13 min·NC 24; NC 27
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto US 601
9.6 mi·10 min·US 601
26
Take the exit onto Union Street South
0.6 mi·58 sec·Union Street South
27
Continue on NC 3
2.3 mi·3 min·Branchview Drive Southeast
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn left onto NC 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
29
Continue on Corban Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·26 sec·Corban Avenue Southeast
30
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·16 sec·Spring Street Southwest
31
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 45 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave whenever is most convenient. A morning departure will give you plenty of daylight to reach Concord. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $35, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 86.5-mile stretch on Andrew Jackson Highway, as finding services might be less frequent during those longer segments. You'll want to make sure you're topped off before heading into that longer stretch.
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 113.1 miles from Surf City, NC, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 50 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
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 Surf City, 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 Surf City, NC
This is one driving day of about 226.1 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Surf City, 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 Andrew Jackson Highway for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 225.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 50; NC 210
Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
39.2 mi into trip|~52m in|US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Turn right onto US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
147.7 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
162.2 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 74 / Andrew Jackson Highway toward US 74 West: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306B
Toward US 74 West: Monroe
5
225.3 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto NC 73 / Corban Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.36 one way
$70.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$38.66
$77.32
premium
$4.70
$41.85
$83.69
diesel
$5.61
$49.92
$99.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.8
0
$23.74
$10.85
Efficient EV
56.5
0
$19.78
$9.04
EV Truck/SUV
90.4
1
$31.65
$14.47
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Surf City, NC
Afternoon
in Surf City on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Concord, NC
Afternoon
in Concord on Saturday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
113 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 47.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed profile, with 43% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on main roads like Andrew Jackson Highway and American Indian Highway, which are key to covering distance efficiently. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 86.5 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway, giving you a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Expect the character of the drive to shift as you move from coastal access roads inland, transitioning from potentially more local traffic to busier highway conditions.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.5 mi on Andrew Jackson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NC 50; NC 210.
Driving Effort6/10
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 226.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 210): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 39.2 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.7 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 226.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.5 miles on Andrew Jackson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Concord, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 210): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 39.2 miles (US 74; US 76 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.7 miles (US 74 / G R Kindley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
