Origin
Carrboro, NC
Afternoon in Carrboro on Sunday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC
Drive Time
34m
Distance
24.6 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrboro, NC
Brixiv
Apex, NC
Daniel Smyth
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Carrboro to Apex, you are facing a straightforward 24.6-mile commute across North Carolina. Expect the drive to take roughly 34 minutes under typical traffic conditions. Since this is a short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your journey will take you primarily along South Greensboro Street, NC 54 East, and Mount Carmel Church Road. Budgeting about $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Both towns are located within the Southeast region, making this a familiar, local-style transit rather than a cross-country expedition.
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
12.3 miles from Carrboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you focused on the road rather than cruising on autopilot. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate monotony on this route. Instead, you will navigate local connections where the longest stretch of road is found on South Greensboro Street. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, the pace remains consistent but requires your full attention through every turn. It is a practical, functional drive that connects two areas without the fast-paced, multi-lane transitions typically found on major highways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Greensboro 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 Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 34m 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 Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Greensboro Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 54 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mount Carmel Church Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Farrington Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Farrington Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 55 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Williams Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hunter Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Greensboro Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrboro, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Greensboro Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Greensboro Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Greensboro Street
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Greensboro Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto South Greensboro Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Greensboro Street
5
Take the ramp left toward NC 54 East: Chapel Hill
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
NC 54 East: Chapel Hill
6
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
7
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
8
Turn right
213 ft
·
5 sec
9
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
10
Turn left onto Mount Carmel Church Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Mount Carmel Church Road
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Carmel Church Road
171 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mount Carmel Church Road
12
Exit the roundabout onto Mount Carmel Church Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Mount Carmel Church Road
13
Continue on Farrington Point Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Farrington Point Road
14
Continue on Farrington Road
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Farrington Road
15
Turn left
6.8 mi
·
9 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward NC 55: Apex, Durham
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
NC 55: Apex, Durham
17
Turn right onto West Williams Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Williams Street
18
Turn left onto Hunter Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunter Street
19
Turn right onto North Salem Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Salem Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 34-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 24.6-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because the entire route consists of local roads, traffic patterns on NC 54 East and Mount Carmel Church Road can fluctuate significantly during peak hours. Your best bet is to check real-time traffic conditions before you head out to ensure your commute stays within that 34-minute window. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your fuel budget around $4 in mind, as local road traffic can occasionally lead to more stop-and-go driving than expected.
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 12.3 miles from Carrboro, NC, or about 17m 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 24.6 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.3 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carrboro, 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 Carrboro, NC
This is one driving day of about 24.6 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carrboro, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.3 mi from Carrboro, NC · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 24.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.3 miles from Carrboro, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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 Apex, 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
$3.94 one way
$7.87 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
| premium | $4.78 | $4.63 | $9.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.47 | $10.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Apex, NC
Afternoon in Apex on Sunday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
26 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
34m 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 Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC covers 24.6 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Greensboro Street, NC 54 East, Mount Carmel Church Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.3 miles from Carrboro, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.94 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.
The drive from Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 34m 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 Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carrboro, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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