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Create accountDrive Time
1h 16m
Distance
60.4 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamance, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
If you are planning a quick excursion from Alamance to Raleigh, you are looking at a straightforward 60.4-mile trek through the heart of North Carolina. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $10, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. You will primarily utilize I-40, the Sam Hunt Freeway, and Wade Avenue to reach your destination. Both cities are located within the Southeast, so you will remain in a familiar regional climate throughout your journey. This trip is ideal for those who prefer a direct, efficient drive rather than a scenic, winding detour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.2 miles from Alamance, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
This journey is heavily highway-focused, with 82% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm on I-40, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 30.3 miles. The character of the road is functional and designed for speed, moving you efficiently from the suburban and rural outskirts of Alamance into the denser traffic patterns near Raleigh. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed transit, you should prepare for a consistent, interstate-focused experience rather than technical or winding local roads. It is a predictable drive that prioritizes travel time over leisurely sightseeing.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 60.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 40 East, I 85 North: Graham
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 40; I 85 / Sam Hunt Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 30.3 mi | 34m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Western Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Alamance Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Gorman Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Faircloth Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alamance, NC and Raleigh, NC.
Start on Cardinal Lane
Turn right onto NC 62
Continue on NC 62
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
Turn right onto Faircloth Street
Continue on Gorman Street
Turn left onto Western Boulevard
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should keep an eye on traffic patterns as you transition onto Wade Avenue near Raleigh. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the manageable 1 hour and 16-minute duration, but it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off for that estimated $10 fuel cost before you leave. If you are traveling during peak commuting hours, expect the Sam Hunt Freeway to be busier than the initial stretches of I-40. Use the brevity of this drive to your advantage by leaving whenever it best suits your schedule, as there is no need to break up the 60.4-mile distance.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 60.4 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.2 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alamance, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alamance, NC
This is one driving day of about 60.4 miles and 1h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.2 mi from Alamance, NC · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 60.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Alamance, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Raleigh, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Raleigh, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.67 one way
$19.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
| premium | $4.78 | $11.36 | $22.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.42 | $26.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Alamance on Sunday
Local time
6:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Evening in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
6:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 12 at 3:43AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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