The drive from Apex, NC to Murraysville, NC covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Triangle Expressway, East Williams Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.8 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.83 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.
Midpoint
66.6 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 133.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 133.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Triangle Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.8 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 107.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Triangle Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NC 55 / East Williams Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|NC 55 / East Williams Street
Turn left onto NC 55 / East Williams Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward NC 540 Toll East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll East
5
20.6 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
8
21.9 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
6
130.6 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 117 North, NC 132 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 420
Toward US 117 North, NC 132 North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Apex, NC to Murraysville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
Wilmington
23.6 mi in|~29m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
107.8 mi
1h 55m
Triangle Expressway
16.4 mi
17m
East Williams Street
3.1 mi
5m
Murrayville Road
1.4 mi
2m
North College Road
0.8 mi
1m
North Salem Street
0.4 mi
1m
Bavarian Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 107.8 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Murraysville, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Salem Street
2
Turn left onto NC 55
3.1 mi·5 min·East Williams Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll EastUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
16 mi·17 min·Triangle Expressway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
6
Merge onto I 40
0.8 mi·53 sec·I 40
7
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi·1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland RdUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 420Toward US 117 North, NC 132 North
10
Continue on US 117; NC 132
0.8 mi·1 min·North College Road
11
Turn right onto Bavarian Lane
494 ft·9 sec·Bavarian Lane
12
Continue on Murrayville Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Murrayville Road
13
Turn left
39 ft·3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 66.6 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.8 miles.
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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murraysville, 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 133.2 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Apex, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 107.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.6 mi from Apex, NC
· 1h 15m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 114.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.83 one way
$41.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.78
$45.55
premium
$4.70
$24.65
$49.30
diesel
$5.61
$29.41
$58.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
20 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wallace, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wallace, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Castle Hayne, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink: 4
Tesla: 3
ChargePoint: 3
EV Connect: 3
Other: 3
Tesla Destination: 2
Electrify America: 1
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$13.99
$6.39
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.33
EV Truck/SUV
53.3
0
$18.65
$8.52
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Apex, NC
Late night
in Apex on Friday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Murraysville, NC
Late night
in Murraysville on Friday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Mount Olive, NC
67 mi in
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
22 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
2h 29m 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 Murraysville, NC covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Triangle Expressway, East Williams Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.6 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 $20.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Apex, NC to Murraysville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Moores Creek National Battlefield.
