How far is Fayetteville, NC from Cornelius, NC?

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Cornelius, NC is about 146.1 miles (235.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.8 miles (186.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 40m 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
146.13 mi
03h 20m
Flight
115.74 mi
186.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
146.13 mi
Kilometers
235.17 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cornelius
Thu, Apr 23, 10:35 AM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Thu, Apr 23, 1:56 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-04-23T07:15
Arrive Cornelius
Thu, Apr 23, 10:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 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
10:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Lilesville
NC

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

From Fayetteville
73 mi
01h 40m
To Cornelius
73.1 mi
01h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    15 m · 2 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Hay Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Hay Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Highland Avenue

    598 ft · 13 sec · Highland Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Arsenal Avenue

    110 m · 9 sec · Arsenal Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Raeford Road

    11 mi · 18 min · Raeford Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Fayetteville Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Fayetteville Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Wayside Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Wayside Road

  8. 8

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

    13.1 mi · 18 min · Plank Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Army Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Army Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Ashemont Road

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ashemont Road

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Ashemont Road

    1.5 km · 1 min · Ashemont Road

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Ashemont Road

    42 m · 2 sec · Ashemont Road

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Ashemont Road

    2357 ft · 45 sec · Ashemont Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Addor Road

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Addor Road

  15. 15

    Turn left

    21 mi · 24 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Green Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Green Street

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Broad Avenue

    15.5 mi · 21 min · Broad Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on East Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  20. 20

    Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    2972 ft · 50 sec · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Williams Street

    1322 ft · 31 sec · Williams Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Polk Street

    13.4 mi · 20 min · Polk Street

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    32 m · 3 sec

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout

    4.2 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    69 m · 5 sec

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn straight

    25 m · 3 sec

  29. 29

    Turn slight left

    6.7 mi · 9 min

  30. 30

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    40 m · 3 sec

  31. 31

    Exit the roundabout

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  32. 32

    Take the ramp right toward I 485 North Outer

    2127 ft · 52 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway

    13.1 mi · 14 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway

  34. 34

    Continue on H Allen Tate Jr Highway

    5.6 mi · 6 min · H Allen Tate Jr Highway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward I 77: Statesville, Charlotte

    1671 ft · 41 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 2 min

  37. 37

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North: Statesville

    1.1 km · 1 min

  38. 38

    Merge slight left onto I-77 North

    1109 ft · 15 sec · I-77 North

  39. 39

    Continue on I 77 North

    1.4 mi · 2 min · I 77 North

  40. 40

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North

    2.7 mi · 3 min · I 77 North

  41. 41

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North

    2 mi · 2 min · I 77 North

  42. 42

    Continue on I-77 North

    1.6 mi · 2 min · I-77 North

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward US 21 South: Catawba Avenue, Lake Norman, Cornelius

    1262 ft · 31 sec

  44. 44

    Keep slight right to continue on US 21 South: Cornelius

    72 m · 8 sec

  45. 45

    Turn straight onto Catawba Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · Catawba Avenue

  46. 46

    Turn left onto Church Street

    1841 ft · 1 min · Church Street

  47. 47

    Turn right onto Legion Street

    124 m · 18 sec · Legion Street

  48. 48

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Legion Street

Car Route Details

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

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
48 steps
24 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
2 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Polk Street
23.5 mi · 16%
Broad Avenue
15.5 mi · 11%
Governor James G Martin Freeway
13.1 mi · 9%
Plank Road
13.1 mi · 9%
Raeford Road
11 mi · 8%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
7.05 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

21 mi · 00h 24m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.3 mi
115.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lilesville
01h 40m from Fayetteville
Leave By
10:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fayetteville and Sunny near Cornelius.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 146.1 miles (235.2 km) and usually takes 03h 20m 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?

Lilesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73 miles from Fayetteville and 73.1 miles from Cornelius.

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 30.3 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 10:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.44 one way or $40.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Fayetteville and Cornelius. Straight-line distance: 115.74 mi (186.27 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Cornelius

#2 Cornelius

City in North Carolina, United States

Population30,804
Coordinates35.4868000, -80.8600700
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Start: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Cornelius (-80.86007, 35.4868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 235 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.16 gal
19.52 L · about $20.44
Round trip
$40.88
10.32 gal · 39.04 L
Estimated CO2
45.9 kg one way
Round trip: 91.7 kg / 202 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $20.44 $40.88
Mid-grade $4.43 $22.85 $45.71
Premium $4.78 $24.65 $49.31
Diesel $5.62 $29.02 $58.04

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 Fayetteville and Cornelius. The current time is 07:15:25.

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.