“At the end” is used more in daily conversation, like “at the end of the day, or at the end of the ride.” It suggests an arrival. “In the end” is used more when describing the end of a story or hypothetical situation. “In the end, Matthew won the war, or, in the end, they lived.” A trick to remember: At- arrival (or describing literal time) In- inside (inside a scene, object, or hypothetical situation)

Examples of when you might use each: You might say "The store is at the end of the the road." And you might say "In the end, it all turned out fine." "The best part was at the end of the movie." "There is a hole in the end of my sock."