How far is Lillington, NC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Lillington, NC to Cary, NC is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 34m 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
36.17 mi
00h 47m
Flight
27.17 mi
43.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lillington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.17 mi
Kilometers
43.72 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.17 mi
Kilometers
58.21 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Fri, Apr 10, 7:55 PM EDT
Return by in Lillington
Fri, Apr 10, 8:43 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lillington
2026-04-10T19:08
Arrive Cary
Fri, Apr 10, 7:55 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lillington
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
Fuquay-Varina
NC

City in North Carolina

From Lillington
13.6 mi
00h 23m
To Cary
22.6 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NE
Destination
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph E

Driving Route Map

A saved road route is not available yet, so the map falls back to a straight-line overview.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Turn-by-turn directions are not available for this route yet, but the driving route map is still shown above.

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
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9 mi
27.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fuquay-Varina
00h 23m from Lillington
Leave By
4:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lillington and Sunny near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km) and usually takes 00h 47m 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?

Fuquay-Varina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.6 miles from Lillington and 22.6 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 27.2 miles (43.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 9 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 4:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.07 one way or $10.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Fuquay-Varina

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 Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 4.8 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 12.6 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Town of Cary
Meeting point 13.4 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office
Town Hall Commons
Nearby stop 4.2 mi away

Town Hall Commons

Holly Springs , NC
242 S Main St, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.5/5 17 reviews Shopping mall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fuquay-Varina.

RAIL

Cary

23 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

25 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

25 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Durham

47 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lillington and Cary. Straight-line distance: 27.17 mi (43.72 km).

Lillington

#1 Lillington

Town in North Carolina

Population3,634
Coordinates35.3993300, -78.8158500
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-78.815891, 35.399341)
End: North Academy Street (-78.781127, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 58 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.28 gal
4.83 L · about $5.07
Round trip
$10.14
2.56 gal · 9.66 L
Estimated CO2
11.4 kg one way
Round trip: 22.8 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $5.07 $10.14
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.67 $11.34
Premium $4.78 $6.12 $12.23
Diesel $5.62 $7.20 $14.40

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 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Lillington and Cary. The current time is 19:08:08.

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.