How far is Cary, NC from Belmont, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Belmont, NC is about 169.6 miles (273 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 34m 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
169.62 mi
03h 17m
Flight
132.42 mi
213.11 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
132.42 mi
Kilometers
213.11 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
169.62 mi
Kilometers
272.98 km
Drive Time
03h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Belmont
Fri, Apr 10, 5:02 PM EDT
Return by in Cary
Fri, Apr 10, 8:20 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-10T13:45
Arrive Belmont
Fri, Apr 10, 5:02 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 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
10:26 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
Archdale
NC

City in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States

From Cary
84.8 mi
01h 38m
To Belmont
84.9 mi
01h 38m

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
77°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    91.3 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 273: Belmont, Mount Holly

    1695 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Beatty Drive

    149 m · 18 sec · Beatty Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Park Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Park Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Catawba Street

    1572 ft · 39 sec · Catawba Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Glenway Street

    108 m · 18 sec · Glenway Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    37 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
96.6 mi · 57%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
67.5 mi · 40%
North Harrison Avenue
3.62 mi · 2%
Park Street
0.99 mi · 1%
NC 273
0.32 mi
Catawba Street
0.3 mi
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

91.3 mi · 01h 42m

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 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.2 mi
132.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Archdale
01h 38m from Cary
Leave By
10:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cary and Sunny near Belmont.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 169.6 miles (273 km) and usually takes 03h 17m 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?

Archdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.8 miles from Cary and 84.9 miles from Belmont.

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

The direct path is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.2 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 10:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.13 one way or $46.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cary and Sunny near Belmont.

Stop Ideas Near Archdale

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

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

RAIL

High Point

6 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

21 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

Lexington

27 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

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

30 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Belmont. Straight-line distance: 132.42 mi (213.11 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Belmont

City in North Carolina, United States

Population12,622
Coordinates35.2429200, -81.0373000
Altitude208
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Belmont (-81.0373, 35.24292)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 273 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.84 gal
22.11 L · about $23.13
Round trip
$46.26
11.68 gal · 44.22 L
Estimated CO2
51.9 kg one way
Round trip: 103.8 kg / 229 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.13 $46.26
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.87 $51.73
Premium $4.78 $27.90 $55.81
Diesel $5.62 $32.84 $65.69

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 Belmont. The current time is 13:45:24.

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.