The drive from Apex, NC to Tarboro, NC covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 64, I 87, Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.9 miles on US 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.37 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
42.7 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 39m highway drive covering 85.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 64 and I 87. The longest continuous stretch is about 48.9 miles on US 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 48.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 1010 / Center Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (SR 1010 / Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 1010 / Center Street
Turn left onto SR 1010 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
7.3 mi into trip|~11m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward I 40 East, US 64 East: Benson, Rocky Mount
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 40 East, US 64 East: Benson, Rocky Mou...
6
15.7 mi into trip|~21m in|I 87; I 440; US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64 toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rock...
8
18.5 mi into trip|~24m in|I 87; US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64 toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
5
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Apex, NC and Tarboro, NC, road signs point toward Rocky Mount, Wilson and Greenville.
Rocky Mount
7.3 mi in|~11m|via US 64
Wilson
18.5 mi in|~24m|via I 87; US 64
Greenville
18.5 mi in|~24m|via I 87; US 64
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
48.9 mi
53m
I 87
20 mi
21m
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
5.2 mi
6m
Dan K Moore Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Center Street
1.6 mi
3m
West Saint James Street
0.8 mi
2m
US 258
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 48.9 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Tarboro, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
51 ft·9 sec·North Salem Street
2
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.6 mi·3 min·Center Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on SR 1010
0.2 mi·20 sec·Ten Ten Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward US 1 North: Raleigh
5
Merge onto US 1
5.2 mi·6 min·Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 64
0.6 mi·1 min·US 64
Exit 1AToward I 40 East, US 64 East: Benson, Rocky MountUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 40; US 64
4.6 mi·5 min·Dan K Moore Freeway
8
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.2 mi·3 min·Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.8 mi·3 min·I 87; I 440; US 64
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64
17 mi·18 min·I 87; US 64
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
48 mi·52 min·US 64
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
120 ft·9 sec
14
Turn left onto US 258
0.4 mi·43 sec·US 258
15
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.8 mi·2 min·West Saint James Street
16
Turn right onto Trade Street
22 ft·0 sec·Trade Street
17
Arrive at destination
Trade Street
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 42.7 miles from Apex, NC, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tarboro, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apex, NC
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Apex, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 48.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Apex, NC
Afternoon
in Apex on Friday
Local time
3:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tarboro, NC
Afternoon
in Tarboro on Friday
Local time
3:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
18 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
1h 39m 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 Tarboro, NC covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 64, I 87, Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.7 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 $13.37 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 85.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (SR 1010 / Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Apex, NC and Tarboro, NC, road signs point toward Rocky Mount, Wilson and Greenville.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
