How far is Cary, NC from Elizabethtown, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Elizabethtown, NC is about 103.5 miles (166.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 80.9 miles (130.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 15m 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
103.53 mi
02h 07m
Flight
80.91 mi
130.21 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
80.91 mi
Kilometers
130.21 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.53 mi
Kilometers
166.61 km
Drive Time
02h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabethtown
Sun, Apr 19, 8:29 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Sun, Apr 19, 10:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-19T06:22
Arrive Elizabethtown
Sun, Apr 19, 8:29 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:14 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

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
Godwin
NC

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

From Cary
51.8 mi
01h 03m
To Elizabethtown
51.7 mi
01h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph W
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Academy Street

    7 m · 7 sec · North Academy Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Chapel Hill Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1232 ft · 27 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Dan K Moore Freeway

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Dan K Moore Freeway

  5. 5

    Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

    14.4 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I-95 South: Benson, Fayetteville

    3110 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    25.3 mi · 29 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    6.1 mi · 7 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 53, NC 210: Fayetteville

    1419 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    52 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Cedar Creek Road

    7.3 mi · 11 min · Cedar Creek Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Cedar Creek Road

    23.7 mi · 33 min · Cedar Creek Road

  17. 17

    Turn right

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue on North Poplar Street

    65 m · 5 sec · North Poplar Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Poplar Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-95 South
31.9 mi · 31%
Cedar Creek Road
31 mi · 30%
I 40 East
14.4 mi · 14%
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
13.4 mi · 13%
Dan K Moore Freeway
7.05 mi · 7%
Chapel Hill Road
2.25 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-95 South

Merge slight left

25.3 mi · 00h 29m

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 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
80.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Godwin
01h 03m from Cary
Leave By
2:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cary and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethtown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 103.5 miles (166.6 km) and usually takes 02h 07m 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?

Godwin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.8 miles from Cary and 51.7 miles from Elizabethtown.

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

The direct path is about 80.9 miles (130.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 2:14 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 Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cary and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethtown.

Stop Ideas Near Godwin

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

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

RAIL

Fayetteville

26 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

50 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

62 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Cary

64 mi away
211 North Academy Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Elizabethtown. Straight-line distance: 80.91 mi (130.21 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Elizabethtown

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

Population3,378
Coordinates34.6293400, -78.6052900
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Elizabethtown (-78.60529, 34.62934)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 167 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
13.83 L · about $14.46
Round trip
$28.92
7.3 gal · 27.66 L
Estimated CO2
32.4 kg one way
Round trip: 64.9 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Elizabethtown. The current time is 06:22:06.

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.