Transportation

Rowan County has an abundance of transportation options to suit your every need. Highway access is our greatest transportation asset with same day access to all Eastern U.S. markets via three interstates. We’re just 45 minutes from two major international airports and home to the general aviation Mid-Carolina Regional Airport. For shipping, North Carolina Ports offers two excellent locations to go with the Port of Charleston in South Carolina. And if that was not enough, Rowan County is the center of a 3,200 mile East Coast rail network.

Highway

By traveling on Interstates I-40, I-77, and I-85, you will have same-day highway access to all Eastern U.S. markets.

I-85 is a major interstate in North Carolina that bisects Rowan County providing convenient access to all parts of the Piedmont Atlantic megaregion. It runs north-south with its southern terminus at an interchange with I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with I-95 near Richmond, Virginia.

I-40 is a major east-west interstate near Rowan County running through the south-central portion of the United States. It is the third longest interstate in the U.S., running from California through North Carolina to its terminus near Wilmington. The well-traveled I-40 is a key link to other major Interstates like I-85 and I-77.

I-77 is a major north-south interstate corridor through the middle Appalachians running between I-90 in Cleveland, Ohio through Columbia SC at the junction with I-26. I-77 connects with many popular interchanges and Interstates such as I-85 and I-40.

Airports

Flying is made easy in Rowan County. We have quick and easy access to three major international airports. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is approximately 45 miles away, the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro is approximately 55 miles away, and the Raleigh Durham International Airport is roughly 116 miles away.

Rowan County has its own general aviation airport, the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport that offers a 5500 foot by 100 foot runway, instrument landing system (ILS), non-directional beacon (NDB) and full-length taxiway. Located just 18 Miles North of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Mid-Carolina offers aircraft maintenance, painting and interiors, avionics installation and repair on-site. Corporate hangar sites, general aviation hangar rentals and tie-down spaces are also available. The airport also offers a Flight School, Pilot’s Lounge and Office Space rental.

Rail Service

Rowan County is at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the country. It provides more than 3,200 miles of track with service to 22 states in the eastern half of the country. Several railroads, including CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern as well as independent carriers serve the needs of Rowan County businesses. The North Carolina Transportation Museum preserves our rail heritage as the home of the historic Spencer Shops, once Southern Railroad’s largest steam locomotive repair facility on the east coast.

In addition, if you are looking for an alternative means of transportation, Amtrak Train travel is available from Salisbury and Kannapolis to locations across the U.S. on a daily basis. The Salisbury Station was recently ranked the fourth best in customer service named among all Amtrak stations.

Deep Water Ports

North Carolina’s Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad in Greensboro, link Rowan County’s businesses to world markets.  These ports serve as a Mid-Atlantic gateway for high value container shipment, forest products and steel/agribusiness exports.

In South Carolina, the Port of Charleston is committed to being the most productive port in North America. Through dedication and service, this port will move your cargo through their port facilities as quickly and efficiently as possible. They strive to provide industry-leading productivity that produces bottom-line benefits for their customers.