Origin
Dunn, NC
Late night in Dunn on Saturday
Local time
3:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunn, 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
48m
Distance
38.7 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunn, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dunn to Raleigh is 38.7 miles and takes about 48 minutes via I-40 and I-95, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a short trip, perfect for a quick journey when you need to get from Dunn to Raleigh without much fuss. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 38.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 26.7 miles on I-40, offering uninterrupted travel. The road character is consistent, dominated by interstate driving, which means you can expect smooth, fast travel for the majority of the trip. While it's not a scenic byway, its highway nature ensures a predictable and efficient drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 26.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in.
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 11 decision points packed into just 38.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 23.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
8.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
5
8.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 West: Raleigh
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
36.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
6
38.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dunn, NC and Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Rock Quarry Rd North.
Wilmington
8.4 mi in
|
~10m
Rock Quarry Rd North
36.2 mi in
|
~42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 26.7 mi | 29m |
| I 95 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Cumberland Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Wilmington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 26.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunn, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on US 421; NC 55
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cumberland Street
2
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
3
Merge onto I 95
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 West: Raleigh
6
Merge onto I 40
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 40
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
10
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
11
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
14
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Dunn, NC · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Dunn, 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
$6.05 one way
$12.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.62 | $13.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.16 | $14.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Late night in Raleigh on Saturday
Local time
3:18 AM
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
2 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
48m 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 Dunn, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 38.7 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 95, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.3 miles from Dunn, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.05 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 11 decision points packed into just 38.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 23.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dunn, NC and Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Rock Quarry Rd North.
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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