How far is Cary, NC from Kings Mountain, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Kings Mountain, NC is about 188.1 miles (302.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.8 miles (239.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 17m 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
188.06 mi
03h 38m
Flight
148.83 mi
239.52 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
148.83 mi
Kilometers
239.52 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
188.06 mi
Kilometers
302.65 km
Drive Time
03h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kings Mountain
Thu, Apr 16, 5:35 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Thu, Apr 16, 9:14 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-16T01:57
Arrive Kings Mountain
Thu, Apr 16, 5:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 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
9:42 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
Thomasville
NC

City in and the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States

From Cary
94 mi
01h 49m
To Kings Mountain
94.1 mi
01h 49m

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
61°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary and Kings Mountain.

  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

    2 mi · 2 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 216: Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Downtown

    1476 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on NC 216 South: Kings Mountain, Downtown

    35 m · 3 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Piedmont Avenue

    2553 ft · 1 min · North Piedmont Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left

    26 m · 6 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 Kings Mountain.

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
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
113 mi · 60%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
67.5 mi · 36%
North Harrison Avenue
3.62 mi · 2%
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
2.04 mi · 1%
US 74 West
0.61 mi
North Piedmont Avenue
0.48 mi
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
03h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.3 mi
148.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasville
01h 49m from Cary
Leave By
9:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cary and Partly Cloudy near Kings Mountain.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cary to Kings Mountain?

The road trip is about 188.1 miles (302.7 km) and usually takes 03h 38m 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?

Thomasville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 94 miles from Cary and 94.1 miles from Kings Mountain.

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

The direct path is about 148.8 miles (239.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.3 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 9:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.30 one way or $52.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cary and Partly Cloudy near Kings Mountain.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasville

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

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

RAIL

High Point

11 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Lexington

17 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

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

26 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

28 mi away
100 West 5th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Kings Mountain. Straight-line distance: 148.83 mi (239.52 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Kings Mountain

#2 Kings Mountain

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

Population11,118
Coordinates35.2451300, -81.3411900
Altitude307
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Kings Mountain (-81.34119, 35.24513)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 303 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.64 gal
25.12 L · about $26.30
Round trip
$52.60
13.28 gal · 50.24 L
Estimated CO2
59 kg one way
Round trip: 118 kg / 260 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.30 $52.60
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.41 $58.82
Premium $4.78 $31.73 $63.45
Diesel $5.62 $37.34 $74.69

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Kings Mountain. The current time is 01:57:16.

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.