How far is Greensboro, NC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Greensboro, NC to Cary, NC is about 70.8 miles (113.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 59.8 miles (96.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 20m 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
70.74 mi
01h 10m
Flight
59.79 mi
96.23 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Greensboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
59.79 mi
Kilometers
96.23 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
70.74 mi
Kilometers
113.85 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Thu, Apr 23, 1:50 AM EDT
Return by in Greensboro
Thu, Apr 23, 3:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Greensboro
2026-04-23T00:39
Arrive Cary
Thu, Apr 23, 1:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Greensboro
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
Hillsborough
NC

Town in and county seat of Orange County, North Carolina, United States

From Greensboro
35.3 mi
00h 35m
To Cary
35.5 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 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 Greensboro and Cary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Greensboro and Cary.

  1. 1

    Start on West Market Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Dudley Street

    890 ft · 27 sec · South Dudley Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Bennett Street

    1573 ft · 42 sec · Bennett Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Gate City Boulevard

    2.7 mi · 6 min · East Gate City Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 40 East, I 85 Business North

    1413 ft · 35 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    34.2 mi · 39 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    28.8 mi · 33 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Cary

    1091 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Harrison Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    625 ft · 26 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Academy Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
63.4 mi · 90%
North Harrison Avenue
3.13 mi · 4%
East Gate City Boulevard
2.72 mi · 4%
West Market Street
0.78 mi · 1%
Bennett Street
0.3 mi
South Dudley Street
0.17 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

34.2 mi · 00h 39m

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
01h 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11 mi
59.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillsborough
00h 35m from Greensboro
Leave By
4:10 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Greensboro and Sunny near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Greensboro to Cary?

The road trip is about 70.8 miles (113.9 km) and usually takes 01h 10m 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?

Hillsborough is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.3 miles from Greensboro and 35.5 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 59.8 miles (96.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 11 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 4:10 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.90 one way or $19.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Greensboro and Sunny near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Hillsborough

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Hillsborough and the surrounding midpoint area.
Burlington City Switchboard
Scenic stop 14.2 mi away

Burlington City Switchboard

Burlington , NC
425 S Lexington Ave, Burlington, NC 27215, United States
Rating 4.0/5 1 reviews Park,City government office
Carrboro Town Hall
Meeting point 12.7 mi away

Carrboro Town Hall

Carrboro , NC
301 W Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510
Rating 4.1/5 7 reviews City Hall
The Town Hall Grill
Nearby stop 14.8 mi away

The Town Hall Grill

Chapel Hill , NC
410 Market St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Rating 4.2/5 302 reviews Bar & grill

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hillsborough.

RAIL

Durham

19 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street
RAIL

Burlington

30 mi away
101 North Main Street
RAIL

Cary

43 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

47 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Greensboro and Cary. Straight-line distance: 59.79 mi (96.23 km).

Greensboro

#1 Greensboro

The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Greensboro metropolitan area.

Population297,878
Coordinates36.0726400, -79.7919800
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: West Market Street (-79.791986, 36.072568)
End: North Academy Street (-78.781127, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 114 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.5 gal
9.45 L · about $9.90
Round trip
$19.81
5 gal · 18.9 L
Estimated CO2
22.2 kg one way
Round trip: 44.4 kg / 98 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $9.90 $19.81
Mid-grade $4.43 $11.07 $22.15
Premium $4.78 $11.94 $23.89
Diesel $5.62 $14.06 $28.12

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 Greensboro and Cary. The current time is 00:39:51.

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.