Trip from Burlington, NC to Fayetteville, NC

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

85.9 mi

138 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Burlington, NC, NC

Burlington, NC

Troy Tumbin

Downtown Fayetteville, NC, NC

Fayetteville, NC

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Burlington, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 85.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Highway 87, Sanford Bypass, NC 24 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.1 miles on State Highway 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.75 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

42.9 miles from Burlington, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Burlington, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 85.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 85.9 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 (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 87 / Sanford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 87): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
2.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street

Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
32.8 mi into trip | ~48m in | US 15; US 501; NC 87 / Sanford Road

Turn right onto US 15; US 501; NC 87 / Sanford Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
45.6 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | US 15; US 501; NC 87

Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 501; NC 87 toward US 1, US 15, US 501, NC 87

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 1, US 15, US 501, NC 87
8
46.6 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | NC 87 BYP

Take the exit onto NC 87 BYP toward US 421, NC 87 Bypass: Lillington

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 70A Toward US 421, NC 87 Bypass: Lillington
6
85.3 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in | Hay Street

Turn left onto Hay Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 87 21.1 mi 29m
Sanford Bypass 19.9 mi 25m
NC 24 17.5 mi 26m
Sanford Road 12.9 mi 17m
South Main Street 4.6 mi 8m
South NC Highway 87 2.3 mi 3m
West Webb Avenue 2.1 mi 2m
NC 87 BYP 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 87 — 21.1 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Fayetteville, NC.

1

Start on US 70; NC 62

192 ft · 8 sec · South Church Street
2

Turn right onto NC 87; NC 100

2.1 mi · 2 min · West Webb Avenue
3

Continue on NC 87

0.3 mi · 27 sec · West Elm Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87

0.5 mi · 41 sec · West Harden Street
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto NC 87

389 ft · 18 sec · North Main Street
6

Turn right onto NC 87

364 ft · 9 sec · Northwest Court Square
7

Turn right onto NC 87

4.6 mi · 8 min · South Main Street
8

Continue on NC 87

2.3 mi · 3 min · South NC Highway 87
9

Continue on NC 87

21 mi · 29 min · State Highway 87
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 501; NC 87

86 ft · 1 sec · NC 87 North
11

Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 87

0.2 mi · 30 sec · NC 87 North
12

Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 87; NC 902

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 15; US 501; NC 87; NC 902
13

Turn right onto Old Goldston Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Old Goldston Road
14

At end of road, turn right onto US 15; US 501; NC 87; NC 902

0.1 mi · 12 sec · US 15; US 501; NC 87; NC 902
15

Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 87

0.6 mi · 1 min · NC 87 Bypass
16

Turn right onto US 15; US 501; NC 87

13 mi · 17 min · Sanford Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Enter roundabout onto US 15; US 501; NC 87

58 ft · 0 sec · US 15; US 501; NC 87
Toward US 1, US 15, US 501, NC 87
18

Continue on US 15; US 501; NC 87

0.3 mi · 40 sec · US 15; US 501; NC 87
Toward US 1, US 15, US 501, NC 87
19

Merge onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 87

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Jefferson Davis Highway
20

Take the exit onto NC 87 BYP

0.3 mi · 44 sec · NC 87 BYP
Exit 70A Toward US 421, NC 87 Bypass: Lillington Use the slight right lane.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto NC 87 BYP

0.6 mi · 1 min · NC 87 BYP
22

Merge onto US 421; NC 87 BYP

20 mi · 25 min · Sanford Bypass
Use the none lane.
23

Continue on NC 24; NC 87

18 mi · 26 min · NC 24; NC 87
Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Continue on Bragg Boulevard

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Bragg Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
25

Turn left onto Hay Street

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Hay Street
Use the left lane.
26

Enter roundabout onto Market Square

369 ft · 5 sec · Market Square
27

Arrive at destination

Market Square

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 42.9 miles from Burlington, NC, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.1 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 80 miles or 1h 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.9 miles or 1h 2m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Burlington, 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 Burlington, NC

This is one driving day of about 85.9 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burlington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 87 for about 21.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.9 mi from Burlington, NC · 1h 2m into the drive

Downtown Carrboro, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carrboro, NC

43 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

Apex, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Carrboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Burlington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fayetteville, NC

The final approach into Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, 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

$13.75 one way

$27.49 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $14.98 $29.96
premium $4.78 $16.16 $32.32
diesel $5.64 $19.08 $38.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.8 0 $9.02 $4.12
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.52 $3.44
EV Truck/SUV 34.4 0 $12.03 $5.50

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 data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Burlington, NC

Evening in Burlington on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fayetteville, NC

Evening in Fayetteville on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 4m 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 Burlington, NC to Fayetteville, NC covers 85.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 87, Sanford Bypass, NC 24. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.9 miles from Burlington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.75 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 85.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 87 / Sanford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (US 15; US 501; NC 87): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Burlington, NC to Fayetteville, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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