How far is Apex, NC from Lincolnton, NC?

The driving distance from Apex, NC to Lincolnton, NC is about 164.6 miles (264.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.3 miles (219.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
164.58 mi
03h 36m
Flight
136.24 mi
219.26 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Apex.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
136.24 mi
Kilometers
219.26 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.58 mi
Kilometers
264.87 km
Drive Time
03h 36m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincolnton
Sun, Apr 19, 8:34 AM EDT
Return by in Apex
Sun, Apr 19, 12:10 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Apex
2026-04-19T04:58
Arrive Lincolnton
Sun, Apr 19, 8:34 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:48 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Apex
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Thomasville
NC

City in and the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States

From Apex
82.2 mi
01h 48m
To Lincolnton
82.4 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W
Destination
70°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Apex and Lincolnton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apex and Lincolnton.

  1. 1

    Start on North Salem Street

    117 m · 20 sec · North Salem Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Saunders Street

    2033 ft · 1 min · Saunders Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Chatham Street

    1652 ft · 44 sec · West Chatham Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Hunter Street

    90 m · 9 sec · Hunter Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Williams Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West Williams Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 64 West

    1271 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    32.9 mi · 43 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    1943 ft · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Isaac Brooks Highway

    25.5 mi · 31 min · Isaac Brooks Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

    1107 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South: High Point, Charlotte

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    50.2 mi · 54 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 152: China Grove, Rockwell

    1773 ft · 44 sec

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    4 m · 1 sec

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout

    593 ft · 11 sec

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    26 m · 1 sec

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout

    7 m · 1 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    1.3 km · 2 min

  21. 21

    Turn sharp right onto East Church Street

    12 mi · 18 min · East Church Street

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Oakridge Farm Highway

    1449 ft · 28 sec · Oakridge Farm Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Oak Ridge Farm Highway

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Oak Ridge Farm Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on East Plaza Drive

    3.1 mi · 5 min · East Plaza Drive

  25. 25

    Continue on River Highway

    22.7 mi · 35 min · River Highway

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · East Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto North Laurel Street

    542 ft · 24 sec · North Laurel Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto East Pine Street

    945 ft · 26 sec · East Pine Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Pine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Apex and Lincolnton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 South
53.4 mi · 32%
US 64 West
33.5 mi · 20%
Isaac Brooks Highway
25.5 mi · 16%
River Highway
22.7 mi · 14%
East Church Street
12 mi · 7%
Greensboro Urban Loop
4.78 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 85 South

Keep slight left

50.2 mi · 00h 54m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.3 mi
136.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasville
01h 48m from Apex
Leave By
9:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Apex and Chance Rain Showers near Lincolnton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Apex to Lincolnton?

The road trip is about 164.6 miles (264.9 km) and usually takes 03h 36m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Thomasville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.2 miles from Apex and 82.4 miles from Lincolnton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 136.3 miles (219.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.01 one way or $46.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Apex and Chance Rain Showers near Lincolnton.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thomasville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thomasville.

RAIL

High Point

11 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Lexington

17 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

26 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

28 mi away
100 West 5th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Apex and Lincolnton. Straight-line distance: 136.24 mi (219.26 km).

Apex

#1 Apex

The most populous city in Wake County, North Carolina.

Population64,388
Coordinates35.7326500, -78.8502900
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Lincolnton

#2 Lincolnton

County seat in North Carolina

Population11,522
Coordinates35.4737500, -81.2545300
Altitude254
CountryUnited States
Start: Apex (-78.85029, 35.73265)
End: Lincolnton (-81.25453, 35.47375)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 265 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.81 gal
21.98 L · about $23.01
Round trip
$46.03
11.62 gal · 43.96 L
Estimated CO2
51.6 kg one way
Round trip: 103.3 kg / 228 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.01 $46.03
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.73 $51.46
Premium $4.78 $27.76 $55.52
Diesel $5.62 $32.68 $65.35

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Apex and Lincolnton. The current time is 04:58:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.