Trip from Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC

Drive Time

3h 50m

Distance

178 mi

286 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 38m ★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 15m
8 PM
3h 43m

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

Downtown Chapel Hill, NC, NC

Chapel Hill, NC

Niki Clark

town in Union and Mecklenburg counties, North Carolina, United States

Stallings, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC covers 178 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Chapel Hill Road, Guntertown Road, I 26 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.49 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

89 miles from Chapel Hill, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 178 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chapel Hill Road 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 Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC is easy. At 3h 50m 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 Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chapel Hill Road Unavailable Refreshing
Guntertown Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 26 East Unavailable Refreshing
Billy Graham Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Andrew Jackson Highway Unavailable Refreshing
US 74 East Unavailable Refreshing
Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Chapel Hill Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, NC and Stallings, NC.

1

Start on the route

26 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road
3

Continue on Guntertown Road

2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road
4

At the end of the road, turn left

3.5 mi · 5 min
5

Continue straight

21 mi · 32 min
6

Take the exit slight right

3.9 mi · 5 min
7

Continue straight

4.2 mi · 5 min
8

Keep slight right to continue on I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville
9

Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Billy Graham Freeway
10

Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

26 mi · 32 min · Billy Graham Freeway
11

Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
12

Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton
13

Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
14

Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

18 mi · 19 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
15

Continue on James A. Callahan Highway

15 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway
16

Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard

12 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard
17

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
18

Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

6.8 mi · 7 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
19

Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg
20

Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

0.8 mi · 56 sec · I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte
21

Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

18 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
22

Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

2.2 mi · 2 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge
23

Take the exit slight right toward I 485: Pineville, Huntersville

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 485: Pineville, Huntersville
24

Keep slight right to continue on I 485 Outer South: Columbia, Pineville

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 485 Outer South: Columbia, Pineville
25

Keep slight left to continue on I 485 South Outer

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 485 South Outer
26

Merge slight left onto Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway

8.3 mi · 8 min · Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway
27

Keep slight right to continue on Governor James G Martin Freeway

15 mi · 16 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway
28

Take the exit slight right toward Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail
29

Turn right onto East John Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · East John Street
30

Turn left onto Stallings Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Stallings Road
31

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, or about 1h 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89 miles or 1h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 9m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, NC

This is one driving day of about 178 miles and 3h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chapel Hill, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89 mi from Chapel Hill, NC · 1h 55m into the drive

Downtown Barker Heights, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Barker Heights, NC

89 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

Barker Heights, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Barker Heights, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Stallings, NC

The final approach into Stallings, 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 Stallings, 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

$28.49 one way

$56.97 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $31.04 $62.08
premium $4.78 $33.48 $66.97
diesel $5.64 $39.55 $79.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.4 0 $18.69 $8.54
Efficient EV 44.5 0 $15.58 $7.12
EV Truck/SUV 71.2 0 $24.92 $11.39

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 23 hours ago

Origin

Chapel Hill, NC

Afternoon in Chapel Hill on Monday

Local time

3:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stallings, NC

Afternoon in Stallings on Monday

Local time

3:35 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

8 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 50m 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 Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC covers 178 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chapel Hill Road, Guntertown Road, I 26 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89 miles from Chapel Hill, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC is easy. At 3h 50m 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 Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

176.9 mi 3h 5m

Explore more options from Chapel Hill, NC or browse trips ending in Stallings, NC.

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