How far is Cary, NC from South Gastonia, NC?

The driving distance from Cary, NC to South Gastonia, NC is about 181.6 miles (292.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 142 miles (228.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 07m 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
181.6 mi
03h 33m
Flight
141.98 mi
228.5 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
141.98 mi
Kilometers
228.5 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
181.6 mi
Kilometers
292.25 km
Drive Time
03h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:46 AM EDT
Return by in Cary
Sun, Apr 19, 11:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cary
2026-04-19T04:12
Arrive South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 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
9:52 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
90.7 mi
01h 46m
To South Gastonia
90.8 mi
01h 46m

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
76°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cary and South Gastonia.

  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

    99.4 mi · 1 hr 52 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 7: East Gastonia

    858 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Ozark Avenue

    3206 ft · 1 min · East Ozark Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on East Long Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Long Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Chester Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Chester Street

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto South York Street

    1186 ft · 22 sec · South York Street

  14. 14

    Continue on South York Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · South York Road

  15. 15

    Continue on York Highway

    1298 ft · 24 sec · York Highway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Davis Park Road

    1677 ft · 46 sec · Davis Park Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Weston Avenue

    772 ft · 34 sec · Weston Avenue

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Becky Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
105 mi · 58%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
67.5 mi · 37%
North Harrison Avenue
3.62 mi · 2%
South York Road
1.58 mi · 1%
East Long Avenue
1.25 mi · 1%
North Chester Street
1.11 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

99.4 mi · 01h 52m

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 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.6 mi
142 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasville
01h 46m from Cary
Leave By
9:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cary and Chance Rain Showers near South Gastonia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cary to South Gastonia?

The road trip is about 181.6 miles (292.3 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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 90.7 miles from Cary and 90.8 miles from South Gastonia.

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

The direct path is about 142 miles (228.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.6 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.39 one way or $50.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cary and Chance Rain Showers near South Gastonia.

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 South Gastonia. Straight-line distance: 141.98 mi (228.5 km).

Cary

#1 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
South Gastonia

#2 South Gastonia

Unincorporated community

Population5,312
Coordinates35.2193000, -81.2056300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Start: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)
End: South Gastonia (-81.20563, 35.2193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 292 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.41 gal
24.26 L · about $25.39
Round trip
$50.78
12.82 gal · 48.52 L
Estimated CO2
57 kg one way
Round trip: 113.9 kg / 251 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.39 $50.78
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.39 $56.78
Premium $4.78 $30.63 $61.25
Diesel $5.62 $36.05 $72.10

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 South Gastonia. The current time is 04:12:34.

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.