Concrete doesn't dry, it cures. It gains strength through a chemical reaction that needs moisture and time, and most of that strength develops in the first four weeks. How the slab is treated during that period affects how it holds up for decades.
Foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours. Keep pets and kids off the surface before then so you don't end up with permanent paw prints or initials. Wait about seven days before driving a passenger car on a new driveway, and longer for heavy trucks or trailers.
Avoid dragging furniture, grills, or equipment across new concrete during the first couple of weeks, and don't park near the edges, which are the weakest part of a young slab.
In the heat of a North Carolina summer, a light misting in the evening for the first several days helps slow evaporation. In cold weather, fresh concrete needs protection from freezing. Your crew should tell you which applies to your pour.
Hold off on deicing salts through the first winter, and don't seal a new slab until it has fully cured unless your contractor applied a cure-and-seal product. If you have questions after the pour, call us. We'd rather answer early than fix something later.