How far is Laurel Park, NC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Laurel Park, NC to Cary, NC is about 262 miles (421.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 211.3 miles (340 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 31m 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
262.06 mi
04h 15m
Flight
211.26 mi
339.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Laurel Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
211.26 mi
Kilometers
339.99 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
262.06 mi
Kilometers
421.74 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Sun, Apr 19, 10:33 AM EDT
Return by in Laurel Park
Sun, Apr 19, 2:48 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Laurel Park
2026-04-19T06:17
Arrive Cary
Sun, Apr 19, 10:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Laurel Park
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
Harmony
NC

Town in north Carolina

From Laurel Park
126.3 mi
02h 07m
To Cary
135.7 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 to 17 mph NNW
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Laurel Park and Cary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Laurel Park and Cary.

  1. 1

    Start on Walnut Loop Road

    574 ft · 26 sec · Walnut Loop Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Davis Mountain Road

    732 ft · 20 sec · Davis Mountain Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Crystal Spring Drive

    1141 ft · 51 sec · Crystal Spring Drive

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto White Pine Drive

    77 m · 13 sec · White Pine Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Glasgow Lane

    1419 ft · 1 min · Glasgow Lane

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Brevard Road

    2067 ft · 52 sec · Brevard Road

  7. 7

    Continue on 6th Avenue West

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 6th Avenue West

  8. 8

    Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

    1 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Four Seasons Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Four Seasons Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on Chimney Rock Road

    12.5 mi · 20 min · Chimney Rock Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Gerton Highway

    1040 ft · 26 sec · Gerton Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right

    6.9 mi · 9 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Old Fort Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Old Fort Road

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Old Fort Road

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Old Fort Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Bat Cave Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Bat Cave Road

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right

    1101 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    138.7 mi · 2 hr 36 min

  18. 18

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

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    28.8 mi · 33 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward Cary

    1091 ft · 23 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Harrison Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    625 ft · 24 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  25. 25

    Turn left onto North Academy Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Laurel Park 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
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bat Cave Road
146 mi · 56%
I 40 East
75.3 mi · 29%
Chimney Rock Road
12.5 mi · 5%
Old Fort Road
4.92 mi · 2%
North Harrison Avenue
3.13 mi · 1%
6th Avenue West
1.22 mi
Longest Stretch

Bat Cave Road

Merge slight left

139 mi · 02h 36m

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
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.7 mi
211.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harmony
02h 07m from Laurel Park
Leave By
8:28 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Laurel Park and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Laurel Park to Cary?

The road trip is about 262 miles (421.7 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Harmony is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.3 miles from Laurel Park and 135.7 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 211.3 miles (340 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.7 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 8:28 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.64 one way or $73.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Laurel Park and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Harmony

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

42 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

49 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

50 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

51 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Laurel Park and Cary. Straight-line distance: 211.26 mi (339.99 km).

Laurel Park

#1 Laurel Park

City in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population2,339
Coordinates35.3137300, -82.4934500
Altitude722
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Walnut Loop Road (-82.493382, 35.3137)
End: North Academy Street (-78.781127, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 422 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.25 gal
35 L · about $36.64
Round trip
$73.28
18.5 gal · 70 L
Estimated CO2
82.2 kg one way
Round trip: 164.4 kg / 362 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.64 $73.28
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.97 $81.94
Premium $4.78 $44.20 $88.39
Diesel $5.62 $52.02 $104.04

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Laurel Park and Cary. The current time is 06:17:24.

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.