How far is Waxhaw, NC from Charlotte, NC?

The driving distance from Waxhaw, NC to Charlotte, NC is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 23m 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
30.26 mi
00h 41m
Flight
21.65 mi
34.84 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waxhaw.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.65 mi
Kilometers
34.84 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.26 mi
Kilometers
48.7 km
Drive Time
00h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charlotte
Wed, Apr 22, 9:05 PM EDT
Return by in Waxhaw
Wed, Apr 22, 9:46 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waxhaw
2026-04-22T20:23
Arrive Charlotte
Wed, Apr 22, 9:05 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:42 AM to 7:42 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:06 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waxhaw
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
Matthews
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Waxhaw
11.6 mi
00h 20m
To Charlotte
18.7 mi
00h 20m

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
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East South Main Street

    19 m · 5 sec · East South Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Broome Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Broome Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Providence Road South

    19.5 mi · 31 min · Providence Road South

  4. 4

    Continue on Queens Road

    3073 ft · 1 min · Queens Road

  5. 5

    Continue on East Morehead Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · East Morehead Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto South Tryon Street

    1 km · 1 min · South Tryon Street

  7. 7

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Tryon Street

Car Route Details

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

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
7 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Providence Road South
19.5 mi · 65%
East Morehead Street
1.63 mi · 5%
North Broome Street
0.65 mi · 2%
South Tryon Street
0.63 mi · 2%
Queens Road
0.58 mi · 2%
East South Main Street
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

Providence Road South

Continue on Providence Road South

19.5 mi · 00h 31m

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 41m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
21.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Matthews
00h 20m from Waxhaw
Leave By
7:06 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Waxhaw and Sunny near Charlotte.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km) and usually takes 00h 41m 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?

Matthews is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.6 miles from Waxhaw and 18.7 miles from Charlotte.

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

The direct path is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.24 one way or $8.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waxhaw and Sunny near Charlotte.

Stop Ideas Near Matthews

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

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

RAIL

Charlotte

17 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Gastonia

43 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Kannapolis

44 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

66 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waxhaw and Charlotte. Straight-line distance: 21.65 mi (34.84 km).

Waxhaw

#1 Waxhaw

Town in Union County, North Carolina, USA

Population17,987
Coordinates34.9245900, -80.7434000
Altitude202
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: East South Main Street (-80.743425, 34.924748)
End: South Tryon Street (-80.843177, 35.227134)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.07 gal
4.04 L · about $4.24
Round trip
$8.48
2.14 gal · 8.08 L
Estimated CO2
9.5 kg one way
Round trip: 19 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $4.24 $8.48
Mid-grade $4.43 $4.74 $9.48
Premium $4.78 $5.11 $10.22
Diesel $5.62 $6.02 $12.04

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Waxhaw and Charlotte. The current time is 20:23:39.

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.