Origin
Carrboro, NC
Evening in Carrboro on Friday
Local time
8:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carrboro, NC to Raleigh, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carrboro, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carrboro, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 30.7 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, NC 54, Wade Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 45m highway drive covering 30.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and NC 54. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.4 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 17 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 15.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 54. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Greensboro Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Greensboro Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South Greensboro Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Greensboro Street
Turn right onto South Greensboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Greensboro Street
Enter roundabout onto South Greensboro Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward NC 54 East: Chapel Hill
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 54 East: Chapel Hill
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
NC 54
Take the exit onto NC 54 toward NC 54 East: Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 54 East: Raleigh
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| NC 54 | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Western Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Greensboro Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Gorman Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Faircloth Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 15.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carrboro, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Greensboro Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Greensboro Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Enter roundabout onto South Greensboro Street
87 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Greensboro Street
4
Continue on South Greensboro Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Greensboro Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NC 54 East: Chapel Hill
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto NC 54
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 54
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto NC 54
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
NC 54
Toward NC 54 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Wade Avenue
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Faircloth Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Faircloth Street
12
Continue on Gorman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gorman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Western Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
15
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
16
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
17
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.3 mi from Carrboro, NC · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Carrboro, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Raleigh, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Raleigh, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.80 one way
$9.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Raleigh, NC
Evening in Raleigh on Friday
Local time
8:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
45m 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 Raleigh, NC covers 30.7 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, NC 54, Wade Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.3 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 $4.80 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Greensboro Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South Greensboro Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Carrboro, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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