How far is Charlotte, NC from Lincolnton, NC?

The driving distance from Charlotte, NC to Lincolnton, NC is about 37.5 miles (60.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.8 miles (46.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 40m 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
37.49 mi
00h 50m
Flight
28.78 mi
46.31 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlotte.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.78 mi
Kilometers
46.31 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.49 mi
Kilometers
60.34 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincolnton
Sun, Apr 19, 7:20 AM EDT
Return by in Charlotte
Sun, Apr 19, 8:11 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlotte
2026-04-19T06:30
Arrive Lincolnton
Sun, Apr 19, 7:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlotte
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Ranlo
NC

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

From Charlotte
18.8 mi
00h 25m
To Lincolnton
18.8 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph W
Destination
70°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charlotte and Lincolnton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte and Lincolnton.

  1. 1

    Start on South Tryon Street

    1 km · 1 min · South Tryon Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Morehead Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Morehead Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Freedom Drive

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Freedom Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left

    1678 ft · 41 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    17.3 mi · 22 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 321 North: Lincolnton

    1736 ft · 45 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto North Chester Street

    3070 ft · 52 sec · North Chester Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Gastonia Dallas Highway

    13.2 mi · 16 min · Gastonia Dallas Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 27, NC 150: Lincolnton

    1052 ft · 23 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Laurel Street

    542 ft · 24 sec · North Laurel Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Pine Street

    945 ft · 26 sec · East Pine Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Pine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlotte and Lincolnton.

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
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Freedom Drive
19.8 mi · 53%
Gastonia Dallas Highway
13.2 mi · 35%
East Main Street
1.37 mi · 4%
West Morehead Street
1.14 mi · 3%
South Tryon Street
0.63 mi · 2%
North Chester Street
0.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Freedom Drive

Merge slight left

17.3 mi · 00h 22m

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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
28.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ranlo
00h 25m from Charlotte
Leave By
4:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Charlotte and Chance Rain Showers near Lincolnton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlotte to Lincolnton?

The road trip is about 37.5 miles (60.3 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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?

Ranlo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Charlotte and 18.8 miles from Lincolnton.

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

The direct path is about 28.8 miles (46.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 4:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.23 one way or $10.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Charlotte and Chance Rain Showers near Lincolnton.

Stop Ideas Near Ranlo

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

4 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Charlotte

28 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

52 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

75 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlotte and Lincolnton. Straight-line distance: 28.78 mi (46.31 km).

Charlotte

#1 Charlotte

The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Population900,350
Coordinates35.2270900, -80.8431300
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Lincolnton

#2 Lincolnton

County seat in North Carolina

Population11,522
Coordinates35.4737500, -81.2545300
Altitude254
CountryUnited States
Start: Charlotte (-80.84313, 35.22709)
End: Lincolnton (-81.25453, 35.47375)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 60 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.32 gal
5.01 L · about $5.23
Round trip
$10.46
2.64 gal · 10.02 L
Estimated CO2
11.7 kg one way
Round trip: 23.5 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $5.23 $10.46
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.85 $11.69
Premium $4.78 $6.31 $12.61
Diesel $5.62 $7.42 $14.85

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 Charlotte and Lincolnton. The current time is 06:30:53.

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.