How far is Lake Norman of Catawba, NC from Charlotte, NC?

The driving distance from Lake Norman of Catawba, NC to Charlotte, NC is about 34.1 miles (54.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.7 miles (41.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
34.03 mi
00h 44m
Flight
25.71 mi
41.37 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Norman of Catawba.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.71 mi
Kilometers
41.37 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
34.03 mi
Kilometers
54.76 km
Drive Time
00h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlotte
Wed, Apr 29, 9:03 PM EDT
Return by in Lake Norman of Catawba
Wed, Apr 29, 9:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Norman of Catawba
2026-04-29T20:19
Arrive Charlotte
Wed, Apr 29, 9:03 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:44 AM to 7:44 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Lake Norman of Catawba
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Cornelius
NC

City in North Carolina, United States

From Lake Norman of Catawba
16.8 mi
00h 22m
To Charlotte
17.1 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
59°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Norman of Catawba and Charlotte.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Norman of Catawba and Charlotte.

  1. 1

    Start on Riverwood Road

    962 ft · 44 sec · Riverwood Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Kiser Island Road

    2705 ft · 2 min · Kiser Island Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East NC 150 Highway

    6.4 mi · 10 min · East NC 150 Highway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 77 South: Charlotte

    1415 ft · 35 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    2.5 mi · 3 min · I-77 South

  8. 8

    Continue on I 77 South

    2.1 mi · 2 min · I 77 South

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 South

    2.3 mi · 3 min · I 77 South

  10. 10

    Continue on I-77 South

    1990 ft · 26 sec · I-77 South

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    4 mi · 5 min · I-77 South

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    2.9 mi · 3 min · I-77 South

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    2.9 mi · 4 min · I-77 South

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 277, NC 16: Brookshire Freeway

    797 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 277 South, NC 16 South: Brookshire Freeway East

    2216 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Brookshire Freeway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Brookshire Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Eleventh Street, Church Street, Tryon Street

    709 ft · 19 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on West 11th Street

    140 m · 14 sec · West 11th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Tryon Street

    3010 ft · 1 min · North Tryon Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Tryon Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Norman of Catawba and Charlotte.

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
20 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-77 South
12.8 mi · 38%
I 77 South
11.8 mi · 35%
East NC 150 Highway
6.36 mi · 19%
Brookshire Freeway
0.69 mi · 2%
North Tryon Street
0.57 mi · 2%
Kiser Island Road
0.51 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

East NC 150 Highway

Turn right onto East NC 150 Highway

6.36 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 44m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.4 mi
25.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cornelius
00h 22m from Lake Norman of Catawba
Leave By
7:02 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Norman of Catawba and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Charlotte.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Norman of Catawba to Charlotte?

The road trip is about 34.1 miles (54.8 km) and usually takes 00h 44m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cornelius is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.8 miles from Lake Norman of Catawba and 17.1 miles from Charlotte.

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

The direct path is about 25.7 miles (41.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.75 one way or $9.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake Norman of Catawba and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Charlotte.

Stop Ideas Near Cornelius

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

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

RAIL

Kannapolis

22 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Charlotte

28 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Gastonia

37 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Salisbury

42 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Norman of Catawba and Charlotte. Straight-line distance: 25.71 mi (41.37 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lake Norman of Catawba

Township in Catawba County, North Carolina

Population5,075
Coordinates35.5868000, -80.9595200
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Charlotte

#2 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
Start: Riverwood Road (-80.959512, 35.586635)
End: South Tryon Street (-80.843177, 35.227134)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 55 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.2 gal
4.55 L · about $4.75
Round trip
$9.51
2.4 gal · 9.1 L
Estimated CO2
10.7 kg one way
Round trip: 21.3 kg / 47 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $4.75 $9.51
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.31 $10.63
Premium $4.78 $5.73 $11.47
Diesel $5.62 $6.75 $13.50

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Norman of Catawba and Charlotte. The current time is 20:19:42.

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.