How far is Cary, NC from Spring Lake, NC?
The driving distance from Cary, NC to Spring Lake, NC is about 51.2 miles (82.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 44.4 miles (71.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 01h 21m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
City in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cary and Spring Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cary and Spring Lake.
-
1
Start on North Academy Street
3087 ft · 2 min · North Academy Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dry Avenue
67 m · 5 sec · Dry Avenue
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3
Continue on Kildaire Farm Road
1.8 mi · 4 min · Kildaire Farm Road
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4
Turn left onto Southeast Cary Parkway
1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Cary Parkway
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Sanford
1286 ft · 31 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward NC 55: Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina
1277 ft · 33 sec
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8
Turn left onto East Williams Street
6 mi · 9 min · East Williams Street
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9
Turn right onto South Main Street
2405 ft · 1 min · South Main Street
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10
Continue on Piney Grove-Wilbon Road
6 mi · 10 min · Piney Grove-Wilbon Road
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11
Continue on Piney Grove-Rawls Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Piney Grove-Rawls Road
-
12
Merge slight left
8.8 mi · 13 min
-
13
Turn right onto McKinney Parkway
1.3 km · 2 min · McKinney Parkway
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14
Turn right onto North Main Street
1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
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15
Take the exit slight left
52 m · 6 sec
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16
Turn left onto East Harnett Street
118 m · 12 sec · East Harnett Street
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17
Turn right onto South 1st Street
2795 ft · 1 min · South 1st Street
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18
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Northington Street
126 m · 15 sec · East Northington Street
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19
Turn left onto South Main Street
552 ft · 16 sec · South Main Street
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20
Turn right
6.6 mi · 9 min
-
21
Continue straight
7 mi · 10 min
-
22
Continue straight
4.4 mi · 7 min
-
23
Continue on Spring Avenue
76 m · 10 sec · Spring Avenue
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24
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
46 m · 7 sec · North 2nd Street
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25
Turn right
56 m · 16 sec
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26
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Bragg Boulevard
41 m · 8 sec · North Bragg Boulevard
-
27
Continue on Lillington Highway
33 m · 5 sec · Lillington Highway
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lillington Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cary and Spring Lake.
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.
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.
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.
Sunny leaving Cary and Sunny near Spring Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cary to Spring Lake?
The road trip is about 51.2 miles (82.4 km) and usually takes 01h 21m 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?
Angier is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.6 miles from Cary and 25.5 miles from Spring Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 44.4 miles (71.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.8 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 3:48 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.17 one way or $14.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cary and Sunny near Spring Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Angier
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Coats Town Hall
Town Hall Commons
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Angier.
Cary
Raleigh Union Station
North Carolina State Fair station
Selma–Smithfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cary and Spring Lake. Straight-line distance: 44.42 mi (71.48 km).
#1 Cary
Town in North Carolina, United States
| Population | 173,587 |
| Coordinates | 35.7915400, -78.7811200 |
| Altitude | 152 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Spring Lake
Borough of New Jersey
| Population | 11,980 |
| Coordinates | 35.1679400, -78.9728100 |
| Altitude | 84 |
| Country | United States |
End: Spring Lake (-78.97281, 35.16794)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 82 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 16m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $7.17 | $14.34 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $8.02 | $16.03 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $8.65 | $17.30 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.