How far is Waxhaw, NC from Burlington, NC?

The driving distance from Waxhaw, NC to Burlington, NC is about 135.9 miles (218.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 109.2 miles (175.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 33m 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
135.92 mi
02h 16m
Flight
109.26 mi
175.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waxhaw.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
109.26 mi
Kilometers
175.84 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
135.92 mi
Kilometers
218.74 km
Drive Time
02h 16m

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 02h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Burlington
Wed, Apr 22, 10:38 PM EDT
Return by in Waxhaw
Thu, Apr 23, 12:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waxhaw
2026-04-22T20:22
Arrive Burlington
Wed, Apr 22, 10:38 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:17 AM to 12:17 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waxhaw
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
East Spencer
NC

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

From Waxhaw
67.1 mi
01h 08m
To Burlington
68.8 mi
01h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW
Destination
53°F
Tonight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Waxhaw and Burlington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waxhaw and Burlington.

  1. 1

    Start on East South Main Street

    19 m · 5 sec · East South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Broome Street

    130 m · 14 sec · North Broome Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto McDonald Street

    82 m · 5 sec · McDonald Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Howie Mine Road

    3049 ft · 1 min · Howie Mine Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

    4.4 mi · 8 min · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

    38 m · 3 sec · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

    2.6 mi · 5 min · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

    32 m · 2 sec · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

    1712 ft · 35 sec · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Traffic Circle

    39 m · 3 sec · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

    3.2 mi · 6 min · Waxhaw Indian Trail Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Old Monroe Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Old Monroe Road

  13. 13

    Continue on East John Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · East John Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 485 Outer North

    2173 ft · 53 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Governor James G Martin Freeway

    20.9 mi · 22 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85: Spartanburg, Greensboro

    980 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro

    1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Jeff Gordon Expressway

    38.9 mi · 44 min · Jeff Gordon Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    17.1 mi · 20 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance

    1181 ft · 37 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Alamance Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Alamance Road

  24. 24

    Turn slight right onto South Church Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · South Church Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Church Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waxhaw and Burlington.

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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
2 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jeff Gordon Expressway
38.9 mi · 29%
I 85 North
33.5 mi · 25%
US 29
23 mi · 17%
Governor James G Martin Freeway
20.9 mi · 15%
Waxhaw Indian Trail Road South
7.01 mi · 5%
Waxhaw Indian Trail Road
3.56 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Jeff Gordon Expressway

Merge slight left onto Jeff Gordon Expressway

38.9 mi · 00h 44m

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
02h 16m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.7 mi
109.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Spencer
01h 08m from Waxhaw
Leave By
1:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Waxhaw and Partly Cloudy near Burlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waxhaw to Burlington?

The road trip is about 135.9 miles (218.7 km) and usually takes 02h 16m 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?

East Spencer is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.1 miles from Waxhaw and 68.8 miles from Burlington.

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

The direct path is about 109.2 miles (175.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.01 one way or $38.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waxhaw and Partly Cloudy near Burlington.

Stop Ideas Near East Spencer

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

2 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

23 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

Kannapolis

26 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

High Point

49 mi away
100 West High St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waxhaw and Burlington. Straight-line distance: 109.26 mi (175.84 km).

Waxhaw

#1 Waxhaw

Town in Union County, North Carolina, USA

Population17,987
Coordinates34.9245900, -80.7434000
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Burlington

#2 Burlington

The most populous city in Alamance County, North Carolina.

Population55,599
Coordinates36.0956900, -79.4378000
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Start: East South Main Street (-80.743425, 34.924748)
End: South Church Street (-79.437732, 36.095621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 219 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.8 gal
18.16 L · about $19.01
Round trip
$38.03
9.6 gal · 36.32 L
Estimated CO2
42.7 kg one way
Round trip: 85.3 kg / 188 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $19.01 $38.03
Mid-grade $4.43 $21.26 $42.52
Premium $4.78 $22.93 $45.87
Diesel $5.62 $27.00 $53.99

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 Waxhaw and Burlington. The current time is 20:22:00.

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.