How far is Cary, NC from Holly Springs, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Holly Springs, NC is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.1 miles (16.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.53 mi
00h 22m
Flight
10.13 mi
16.3 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.13 mi
Kilometers
16.3 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.53 mi
Kilometers
20.16 km
Drive Time
00h 22m

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 00h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Holly Springs
Thu, Apr 16, 12:59 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Thu, Apr 16, 1:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-16T00:37
Arrive Holly Springs
Thu, Apr 16, 12:59 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:22 AM to 7:22 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Cary
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Apex
NC

The most populous city in Wake County, North Carolina.

From Cary
6.3 mi
00h 11m
To Holly Springs
6.3 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW
Destination
91°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary and Holly Springs.

  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

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 55: Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina

    1277 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Williams Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East Williams Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto East Williams Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Williams Street

  10. 10

    Continue on North Main Street

    2 mi · 4 min · North Main Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
88 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
4.05 mi · 32%
East Williams Street
2.61 mi · 21%
North Main Street
1.98 mi · 16%
Kildaire Farm Road
1.76 mi · 14%
Southeast Cary Parkway
1.01 mi · 8%
North Academy Street
0.58 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

4.05 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 22m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
10.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Apex
00h 11m from Cary
Leave By
7:46 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cary and Mostly Sunny near Holly Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cary to Holly Springs?

The road trip is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km) and usually takes 00h 22m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Apex is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.3 miles from Cary and 6.3 miles from Holly Springs.

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

The direct path is about 10.1 miles (16.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.74 one way or $3.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Apex

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Apex and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham
Food stop 14.6 mi away

Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham

Durham , NC
7830 NC-751, Durham, NC 27713
Rating 4.5/5 1,265 reviews Hamburger restaurant,Bar,Bar & grill,Takeout Restaurant,Sandwich shop,Sports bar
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 11 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Practical stop 6.6 mi away

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall

Morrisville , NC
101 Morrisville Square Way Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
Rating 4.7/5 26 reviews Learning center,After school program,Tutoring service
Town of Cary
Meeting point 4.8 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Cary

9 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

15 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

19 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Durham

30 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Holly Springs. Straight-line distance: 10.13 mi (16.3 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Holly Springs

City in and county seat of Marshall County, Mississippi, United States

Population31,377
Coordinates35.6512700, -78.8336200
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Holly Springs (-78.83362, 35.65127)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.44 gal
1.67 L · about $1.74
Round trip
$3.49
0.88 gal · 3.34 L
Estimated CO2
3.9 kg one way
Round trip: 7.8 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $1.74 $3.49
Mid-grade $4.43 $1.95 $3.90
Premium $4.78 $2.10 $4.20
Diesel $5.62 $2.47 $4.95

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Holly Springs. The current time is 00:37:05.

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.