How far is Cary, NC from Barker Heights, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Barker Heights, NC is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 208.5 miles (335.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 05m 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
256.54 mi
05h 02m
Flight
208.55 mi
335.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
208.55 mi
Kilometers
335.63 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.54 mi
Kilometers
412.86 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 05h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Barker Heights
Fri, Apr 10, 6:50 PM EDT
Return by in Cary
Fri, Apr 10, 11:53 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-10T13:47
Arrive Barker Heights
Fri, Apr 10, 6:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:03 AM to 1:03 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cary
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
China Grove
NC

Town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States

From Cary
128.1 mi
02h 31m
To Barker Heights
128.4 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph E
Destination
75°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary and Barker Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on North Academy Street

    7 m · 6 sec · North Academy Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

    625 ft · 19 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

    3.3 mi · 6 min · North Harrison Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    1937 ft · 41 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Dan K. Moore Frwy.

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    108 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby

    3242 ft · 50 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on East Dixon Boulevard

    12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard

  13. 13

    Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard

    15.7 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

    18.3 mi · 20 min · Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway

    12.5 mi · 15 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Hendersonville

    1023 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Upward Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Upward Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Spartanburg Highway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Spartanburg Highway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Glover Street

    2159 ft · 1 min · Glover Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Glover Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
113 mi · 44%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
67.5 mi · 26%
Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
18.3 mi · 7%
West Dixon Boulevard
15.7 mi · 6%
Andrew Jackson Highway
14.3 mi · 6%
East Dixon Boulevard
12 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

108 mi · 02h 02m

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
05h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
208.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
China Grove
02h 31m from Cary
Leave By
6:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cary and Sunny near Barker Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cary to Barker Heights?

The road trip is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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?

China Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.1 miles from Cary and 128.4 miles from Barker Heights.

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

The direct path is about 208.5 miles (335.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 6:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.85 one way or $71.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cary and Sunny near Barker Heights.

Stop Ideas Near China Grove

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

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

RAIL

Kannapolis

8 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

16 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

41 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

Charlotte

43 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Barker Heights. Straight-line distance: 208.55 mi (335.63 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Barker Heights

#2 Barker Heights

Township in Henderson County, North Carolina

Population1,254
Coordinates35.3112300, -82.4440100
Altitude647
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Barker Heights (-82.44401, 35.31123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 413 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.05 gal
34.27 L · about $35.85
Round trip
$71.69
18.1 gal · 68.54 L
Estimated CO2
80.4 kg one way
Round trip: 160.9 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.85 $71.69
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.08 $80.16
Premium $4.78 $43.24 $86.48
Diesel $5.62 $50.90 $101.79

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 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Barker Heights. The current time is 13:47:28.

Distance to Other Cities

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