How far is Cornelius, NC from Fayetteville, NC?

The driving distance from Cornelius, NC to Fayetteville, NC is about 147.6 miles (237.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.8 miles (186.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 53m 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
147.58 mi
02h 56m
Flight
115.74 mi
186.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cornelius.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
115.74 mi
Kilometers
186.27 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
147.58 mi
Kilometers
237.51 km
Drive Time
02h 56m

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 02h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fayetteville
Thu, Apr 23, 8:55 AM EDT
Return by in Cornelius
Thu, Apr 23, 11:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cornelius
2026-04-23T05:58
Arrive Fayetteville
Thu, Apr 23, 8:55 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:57 AM to 12:57 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cornelius
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
Lilesville
NC

Human settlement in Anson County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Cornelius
73.4 mi
01h 28m
To Fayetteville
74.1 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cornelius and Fayetteville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cornelius and Fayetteville.

  1. 1

    Start on Legion Street

    124 m · 23 sec · Legion Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Church Street

    1841 ft · 1 min · Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Catawba Avenue

    3253 ft · 2 min · Catawba Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Catawba Avenue

    622 ft · 17 sec · Catawba Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 77 South: Charlotte

    979 ft · 24 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto I-77 South

    1.9 mi · 2 min · I-77 South

  7. 7

    Continue on I 77 South

    2.1 mi · 2 min · I 77 South

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 South

    2.3 mi · 3 min · I 77 South

  9. 9

    Continue on I-77 South

    1990 ft · 26 sec · I-77 South

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    1.1 mi · 1 min · I-77 South

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 485: Pineville, Matthews

    1201 ft · 29 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 485 North Inner: Matthews

    1.3 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 485 North Inner: Matthews

    1526 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto H Allen Tate Jr Highway

    6.6 mi · 7 min · H Allen Tate Jr Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Governor James G Martin Freeway

    13 mi · 14 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 218: Mint Hill

    1665 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Fairview Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Fairview Road

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    38 m · 3 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout

    6.7 mi · 9 min

  21. 21

    Turn slight left

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    71 m · 5 sec

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    39 m · 3 sec

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout

    13.4 mi · 20 min

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Williams Street

    1319 ft · 29 sec · Williams Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto W. Cliff Martin Highway

    137 m · 7 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight left

    151 m · 20 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left onto W. Cliff Martin Highway

    2922 ft · 45 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  32. 32

    Continue on West Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro

    5.3 mi · 8 min

  35. 35

    Turn left onto West Green Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · West Green Street

  36. 36

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Fayetteville Road

    21 mi · 24 min · Fayetteville Road

  37. 37

    Turn right onto Addor Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Addor Road

  38. 38

    Continue on Addor Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Addor Road

  39. 39

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Ashemont Road

    2362 ft · 45 sec · Ashemont Road

  40. 40

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Ashemont Road

    41 m · 2 sec · Ashemont Road

  41. 41

    Exit the roundabout onto Ashemont Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Ashemont Road

  42. 42

    Keep slight left to continue on Ashemont Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Ashemont Road

  43. 43

    Continue on Army Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Army Road

  44. 44

    Continue on Plank Road

    13.1 mi · 18 min · Plank Road

  45. 45

    Turn right onto Wayside Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Wayside Road

  46. 46

    Turn left onto Fayetteville Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Fayetteville Road

  47. 47

    Continue on Raeford Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Raeford Road

  48. 48

    Continue on South Raeford Road

    9.5 mi · 16 min · South Raeford Road

  49. 49

    Continue on Arsenal Avenue

    110 m · 11 sec · Arsenal Avenue

  50. 50

    Turn left onto Highland Avenue

    598 ft · 18 sec · Highland Avenue

  51. 51

    Turn right onto Hay Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Hay Street

  52. 52

    Enter the roundabout toward Market Square

    113 m · 6 sec · Market Square

  53. 53

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cornelius and Fayetteville.

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
53 steps
24 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
2 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Fairview Road
27.6 mi · 19%
Fayetteville Road
21.8 mi · 15%
Plank Road
13.1 mi · 9%
Governor James G Martin Freeway
13 mi · 9%
Andrew Jackson Highway
10.2 mi · 7%
South Raeford Road
9.53 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Fayetteville Road

At the end of the road, turn left onto Fayetteville Road

21 mi · 00h 24m

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
02h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.8 mi
115.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lilesville
01h 28m from Cornelius
Leave By
12:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cornelius and Sunny near Fayetteville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cornelius to Fayetteville?

The road trip is about 147.6 miles (237.5 km) and usually takes 02h 56m 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?

Lilesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.4 miles from Cornelius and 74.1 miles from Fayetteville.

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

The direct path is about 115.8 miles (186.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.8 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 12:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.64 one way or $41.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cornelius and Sunny near Fayetteville.

Stop Ideas Near Lilesville

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

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

RAIL

Hamlet

28 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Southern Pines

59 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Charlotte

82 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

83 mi away
201 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cornelius and Fayetteville. Straight-line distance: 115.74 mi (186.27 km).

Cornelius

#1 Cornelius

City in North Carolina, United States

Population30,804
Coordinates35.4868000, -80.8600700
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Fayetteville

#2 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Start: Legion Street (-80.859886, 35.48731)
End: Market Square (-78.878408, 35.052733)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 238 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.21 gal
19.71 L · about $20.64
Round trip
$41.27
10.42 gal · 39.42 L
Estimated CO2
46.3 kg one way
Round trip: 92.6 kg / 204 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $20.64 $41.27
Mid-grade $4.43 $23.08 $46.15
Premium $4.78 $24.89 $49.79
Diesel $5.62 $29.30 $58.60

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

There is no time difference between Cornelius and Fayetteville. The current time is 05:58:56.

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.