Origin
Apex, NC
Late night in Apex on Wednesday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
175.1 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 30m
★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Lenoir, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC covers 175.1 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.5 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 43m drive with frequent turns across 175.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Saunders Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC is easy. At 3h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Saunders Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Chatham Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hunter Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Williams Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 64 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Isaac Brooks Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Saunders Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Lenoir, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
384 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Salem Street
2
Turn right onto Saunders Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Saunders Street
3
Turn right onto West Chatham Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Chatham Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Hunter Street
295 ft
·
9 sec
·
Hunter Street
5
Turn right onto West Williams Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Williams Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward US 64 West
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 64 West
7
Merge slight left
33 mi
·
43 min
8
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Isaac Brooks Highway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Isaac Brooks Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte
12
Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Greensboro Urban Loop
13
Keep slight right to continue on Greensboro Urban Loop
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Greensboro Urban Loop
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Salem Parkway, Yadkinville
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 421: Salem Parkway, Yadkinville
17
Keep slight left to continue on US 421 North: Yadkinville
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 421 North: Yadkinville
18
Merge slight right
48 mi
·
55 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward NC 16 South, NC 18: Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Lenoir
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
NC 16 South, NC 18: Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Lenoir
20
Turn right onto South Cherry Street
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Cherry Street
21
Turn right
25 mi
·
36 min
22
Turn right onto Ridge Street Northwest
404 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Street Northwest
23
Turn left onto West Avenue Northwest
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Avenue Northwest
24
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
390 ft
·
24 sec
·
Main Street Northwest
25
Turn left onto Harper Avenue Northwest
82 ft
·
3 sec
·
Harper Avenue Northwest
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 87.5 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lenoir, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Apex, 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 Apex, NC
This is one driving day of about 175.1 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Apex, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.5 mi from Apex, NC · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.5 miles from Apex, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lenoir, NC
The final approach into Lenoir, 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 Lenoir, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.38 one way
$54.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.41 | $64.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.66 | $77.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.39 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.32 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.51 | $11.21 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lenoir, NC
Late night in Lenoir on Wednesday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC covers 175.1 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Saunders Street, West Chatham Street, Hunter Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.5 miles from Apex, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC is easy. At 3h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Apex, NC to Lenoir, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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