How far is Cary, NC from Albemarle, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Albemarle, NC is about 103.4 miles (166.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 85.4 miles (137.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
103.41 mi
02h 21m
Flight
85.38 mi
137.4 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
85.38 mi
Kilometers
137.4 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.41 mi
Kilometers
166.43 km
Drive Time
02h 21m

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 02h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albemarle
Mon, Apr 13, 10:44 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Mon, Apr 13, 1:05 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-13T08:23
Arrive Albemarle
Mon, Apr 13, 10:44 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cary
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Carthage
NC

City in Moore County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Cary
51.6 mi
01h 10m
To Albemarle
51.8 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cary and Albemarle.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary and Albemarle.

  1. 1

    Start on North Academy Street

    3087 ft · 2 min · North Academy Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dry Avenue

    67 m · 5 sec · Dry Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Kildaire Farm Road

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Kildaire Farm Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Southeast Cary Parkway

    1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Cary Parkway

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Sanford

    1286 ft · 31 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

    20.3 mi · 22 min · Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Jefferson Davis Highway

    17.1 mi · 20 min · Jefferson Davis Highway

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto White Hill Road

    10.7 mi · 15 min · White Hill Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Monroe Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Monroe Street

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Courthouse Square

    102 m · 6 sec · McReynolds Street

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto McReynolds Street

    42.1 mi · 1 hr · McReynolds Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Albemarle Road

    5.4 mi · 7 min · Albemarle Road

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Albemarle Road

    35 m · 2 sec · Albemarle Road

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto Albemarle Road

    1809 ft · 36 sec · Albemarle Road

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    805 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South 2nd Street

    1379 ft · 28 sec · South 2nd Street

  18. 18

    Continue on South 1st Street

    2596 ft · 1 min · South 1st Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    42 m · 6 sec · West Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cary and Albemarle.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
20 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
McReynolds Street
42.1 mi · 41%
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
20.3 mi · 20%
Jefferson Davis Highway
17.1 mi · 17%
White Hill Road
10.7 mi · 10%
Albemarle Road
5.89 mi · 6%
Kildaire Farm Road
1.76 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

McReynolds Street

Exit the rotary onto McReynolds Street

42.1 mi · 01h 00m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18 mi
85.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carthage
01h 10m from Cary
Leave By
1:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cary and Mostly Sunny near Albemarle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cary to Albemarle?

The road trip is about 103.4 miles (166.4 km) and usually takes 02h 21m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Carthage is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.6 miles from Cary and 51.8 miles from Albemarle.

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

The direct path is about 85.4 miles (137.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 18 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.46 one way or $28.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cary and Mostly Sunny near Albemarle.

Stop Ideas Near Carthage

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Carthage, 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 Carthage.

RAIL

Southern Pines

19 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Hamlet

57 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Fayetteville

58 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Cary

76 mi away
211 North Academy Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Albemarle. Straight-line distance: 85.38 mi (137.4 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Albemarle

#2 Albemarle

City in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States

Population16,003
Coordinates35.3501400, -80.2000600
Altitude145
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Albemarle (-80.20006, 35.35014)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 166 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.65 gal
13.81 L · about $14.46
Round trip
$28.92
7.3 gal · 27.62 L
Estimated CO2
32.4 kg one way
Round trip: 64.9 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.46 $28.92
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.17 $32.33
Premium $4.78 $17.44 $34.88
Diesel $5.62 $20.53 $41.06

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Albemarle. The current time is 08:23:48.

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.