How far is Pinehurst, NC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Pinehurst, NC to Cary, NC is about 190.1 miles (306 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 158.3 miles (254.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 04m 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
190.11 mi
03h 02m
Flight
158.34 mi
254.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pinehurst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
158.34 mi
Kilometers
254.82 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.11 mi
Kilometers
305.95 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Sat, Apr 18, 4:35 AM EDT
Return by in Pinehurst
Sat, Apr 18, 7:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pinehurst
2026-04-18T01:33
Arrive Cary
Sat, Apr 18, 4:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 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
10:56 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pinehurst
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
Wallburg
NC

Human settlement in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Pinehurst
92.2 mi
01h 31m
To Cary
97.9 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph W
Destination
93°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Turtle Dove Street

    148 m · 24 sec · Turtle Dove Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Calico Road

    973 ft · 26 sec · Calico Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Morganton Boulevard Southwest

    6.4 mi · 11 min · Morganton Boulevard Southwest

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Harper Avenue

    712 ft · 20 sec · Harper Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Wilkesboro Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Wilkesboro Boulevard Southeast

  6. 6

    Continue on Wilkesboro Boulevard Northeast

    22.8 mi · 32 min · Wilkesboro Boulevard Northeast

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right

    1670 ft · 41 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    47.8 mi · 55 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Greensboro

    1.6 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    23.1 mi · 27 min

  12. 12

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

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    28.8 mi · 33 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Cary

    1091 ft · 23 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Harrison Avenue

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Harrison Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    625 ft · 24 sec · Chapel Hill Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Academy Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
99.4 mi · 52%
Wilkesboro Boulevard Northeast
70.9 mi · 37%
Morganton Boulevard Southwest
6.37 mi · 3%
North Harrison Avenue
3.13 mi · 2%
Wilkesboro Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi · 1%
Calico Road
0.18 mi
Longest Stretch

Wilkesboro Boulevard Northeast

Merge slight left

47.8 mi · 00h 55m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.8 mi
158.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wallburg
01h 31m from Pinehurst
Leave By
10:56 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pinehurst and Mostly Sunny near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 190.1 miles (306 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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?

Wallburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.2 miles from Pinehurst and 97.9 miles from Cary.

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

The direct path is about 158.3 miles (254.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.8 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 10:56 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.58 one way or $53.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pinehurst and Mostly Sunny near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Wallburg

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

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

BUS

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

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

High Point

13 mi away
100 West High St
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

13 mi away
100 West 5th Street
RAIL

Lexington

23 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pinehurst and Cary. Straight-line distance: 158.34 mi (254.82 km).

Pinehurst

#1 Pinehurst

Village in North Carolina

Population17,014
Coordinates35.8526300, -81.6064900
Altitude329
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Turtle Dove Street (-81.606487, 35.852802)
End: North Academy Street (-78.781127, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 306 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.71 gal
25.39 L · about $26.58
Round trip
$53.16
13.42 gal · 50.78 L
Estimated CO2
59.6 kg one way
Round trip: 119.3 kg / 263 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.58 $53.16
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.72 $59.44
Premium $4.78 $32.06 $64.12
Diesel $5.62 $37.74 $75.47

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Pinehurst and Cary. The current time is 01:33:15.

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.