How far is Cary, NC from Lillington, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to Lillington, NC is about 32.4 miles (52.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m 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
32.37 mi
00h 53m
Flight
27.17 mi
43.72 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
27.17 mi
Kilometers
43.72 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.37 mi
Kilometers
52.09 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lillington
Tue, May 26, 9:03 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Tue, May 26, 9:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-05-26T08:10
Arrive Lillington
Tue, May 26, 9:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:44 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fuquay-Varina
NC

City in North Carolina

From Cary
16.2 mi
00h 26m
To Lillington
16.2 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SW
Destination
87°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6 mi · 9 min · East Williams Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    2405 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Piney Grove-Wilbon Road

    6 mi · 10 min · Piney Grove-Wilbon Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Piney Grove-Rawls Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Grove-Rawls Road

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    8.8 mi · 13 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto McKinney Parkway

    1.3 km · 2 min · McKinney Parkway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  15. 15

    Continue on South Main Street

    83 m · 22 sec · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn right

    4 m · 1 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Piney Grove-Rawls Road
10 mi · 31%
Piney Grove-Wilbon Road
6 mi · 19%
East Williams Street
5.95 mi · 18%
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
4.05 mi · 13%
Kildaire Farm Road
1.76 mi · 5%
North Main Street
1.16 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Piney Grove-Rawls Road

Merge slight left

8.84 mi · 00h 13m

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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.2 mi
27.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fuquay-Varina
00h 26m from Cary
Leave By
4:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cary and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lillington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 32.4 miles (52.1 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Fuquay-Varina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from Cary and 16.2 miles from Lillington.

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

The direct path is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.52 one way or $9.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Cary and Showers And Thunderstorms near Lillington.

Stop Ideas Near Fuquay-Varina

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 Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 4.7 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 14.1 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 14.7 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 13 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 Fuquay-Varina.

RAIL

Cary

23 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

25 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

25 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Durham

47 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Lillington. Straight-line distance: 27.17 mi (43.72 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Lillington

Town in North Carolina

Population3,634
Coordinates35.3993300, -78.8158500
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: Lillington (-78.81585, 35.39933)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.14 gal
4.32 L · about $4.52
Round trip
$9.03
2.28 gal · 8.64 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $4.52 $9.03
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.05 $10.10
Premium $4.78 $5.45 $10.89
Diesel $5.62 $6.41 $12.82

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Cary and Lillington. The current time is 08:10:28.

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.