Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Heading to the Ovens Auditorium for a show, when GPS maps it out from Cary it’s 64>421>85... about 2:20.
However it gives 64>49 as an alternative, more direct ‘as the crow flies’ route, but about 10 min longer and 20 miles less. Thoughts? Is 49 actually faster if you’re over the speed limit? How about that road at night?
64 to 49 can be viable depending on which way you are coming from and if you expect to be hitting Charlotte during traffic. With the construction on 85 you can get stuck pretty easily. I’d try to check the route during a time when you expect to be leaving.
While I use 64 to 49 to get to the Northern end of Charlotte (IKEA/Great Wolf Lodge), 49 is a two lane road that is quite dark. You can't safely run 70 mph on it. It passes next to the Uwharrie National Forest so wildlife crossing the road is a possibility.
I don't use that route to make time-I use it because it is a more low-key drive.
That's our usual route now that we live in SW Wake. But I wouldn't do 49 at night again. Dark, narrow in places, and just doing the speed limit is about the best you can do at night. In the day, it's a lovely drive, and you can go a little above speed limit.
49 is a fine back roads way, but it is definitely slower. On the plus side you keep moving and don't get stuck in that construction traffic around China Grove. You can't go too fast on it, though. It's a two lane road and occasionally has trucks on it. We just came back from Charlotte that way on Thanksgiving night.
I'm surprised that Google would tell you to do 64 to 421 to 85 and not just send you on 40 to 85. When I google map "Cary NC" to Charlotte NC it says go 40 to 85, not 64. That's the way I would go.
64 and 49 is a beautiful route during the daytime and worth the extra 20-30 minutes for the relaxed ride, but if you're trying to make time it is not the way to go. If you want to speed, I'd stick to 40 and 85. I wouldn't actually do the 421 route. Been awhile since I've been on it, but if you want to speed I think the interstates are more conducive. HOWEVER, you could just leave in plenty of time instead. Charlotte traffic is bad and you could get stuck in a traffic jam anytime.
I drive Cary to Charlotte/ Matthews a lot. The map says it is 10 minutes longer, but it always makes it up, so the time is the same, or even less, and you save 20+ miles.
To get to Ovens, you can cut across some roads near Concord that take you to 24/27 and will end up "right there".
Comments about driving at night are valid, but it is NOT longer time. (Coming from Costco in Apex.)
My in-laws all live in Charlotte, near Matthews. It is about 30 minutes longer for us to come home to Chapel Hill via 64/49 vs I-85. Took us about 3 hours coming back on 49 on Thursday night in light traffic. We made one stop at Sheetz in Asheboro. It is DEFINITELY a longer route for us. Maybe not if you're going to Cary, I dunno. Takes about 20 minutes to get from Pittsboro, where we exit 64, to Chapel Hill so I wouldn't think it would be that different. We have been alternating these two routes for 30 years or so?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
