Uwharrie is closed from 12/15 to 4/1. Don't drive up there now!! And it's probably more thasn 45 minutes from Charlotte, but I guess it depends on where you live in Charlotte and how fast you drive.
It was an hour tops for me, but I was leaving from the east side of Charlotte anyhow. I went for the final weekend they were open, had a blast! I'll be back as soon as it opens.
There's a decent little spot I know of down in Waxhaw if you're up for a small drive.