How far is Glen Alpine, NC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Glen Alpine, NC to Cary, NC is about 192.4 miles (309.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 08m 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
192.46 mi
03h 04m
Flight
168.15 mi
270.61 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Glen Alpine.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.15 mi
Kilometers
270.61 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
192.46 mi
Kilometers
309.74 km
Drive Time
03h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Thu, Apr 23, 6:58 AM EDT
Return by in Glen Alpine
Thu, Apr 23, 10:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Glen Alpine
2026-04-23T03:54
Arrive Cary
Thu, Apr 23, 6:58 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 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
10:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Glen Alpine
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
Winston-Salem
NC

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

From Glen Alpine
96.1 mi
01h 32m
To Cary
96.4 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Glen Alpine and Cary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glen Alpine and Cary.

  1. 1

    Start on Pitts Street

    15 m · 7 sec · Pitts Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Catawba Street

    116 m · 12 sec · Catawba Street

  3. 3

    Continue on London Street

    1 km · 1 min · London Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Conley Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Conley Road

  5. 5

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

    1 km · 1 min · Jamestown Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right

    109 m · 9 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1111 ft · 27 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    111.5 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    28.8 mi · 33 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Cary

    1091 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Harrison Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    625 ft · 26 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Academy Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Glen Alpine and Cary.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jamestown Road
112 mi · 58%
I 40 East
75.3 mi · 39%
North Harrison Avenue
3.13 mi · 2%
Conley Road
0.82 mi
London Street
0.65 mi
Chapel Hill Road
0.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Jamestown Road

Merge slight left

112 mi · 02h 07m

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 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.3 mi
168.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Winston-Salem
01h 32m from Glen Alpine
Leave By
10:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Glen Alpine and Sunny near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Glen Alpine to Cary?

The road trip is about 192.4 miles (309.7 km) and usually takes 03h 04m 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?

Winston-Salem is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.1 miles from Glen Alpine and 96.4 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 168.1 miles (270.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 10:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.90 one way or $53.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Glen Alpine and Sunny near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Winston-Salem

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

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

BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

2 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
RAIL

High Point

27 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Lexington

31 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Glen Alpine and Cary. Straight-line distance: 168.15 mi (270.61 km).

Glen Alpine

#1 Glen Alpine

Town of the United States

Population1,487
Coordinates35.7290200, -81.7792700
Altitude370
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Pitts Street (-81.779246, 35.728975)
End: North Academy Street (-78.781127, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 310 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.79 gal
25.71 L · about $26.90
Round trip
$53.79
13.58 gal · 51.42 L
Estimated CO2
60.3 kg one way
Round trip: 120.7 kg / 266 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.90 $53.79
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.07 $60.15
Premium $4.78 $32.44 $64.89
Diesel $5.62 $38.19 $76.37

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 Glen Alpine and Cary. The current time is 03:54:10.

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.