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Trip from Durham, NC to Broadway, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 6m

Distance

50.6 mi

81 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m

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

Downtown Broadway, NC, NC

Broadway, NC

Timur Zh

Trip Overview

This 50.6-mile drive from Durham, NC to Broadway, NC is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 6 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Triangle Expressway and NC 42, making it a highway-focused experience. You'll stay within North Carolina for the entire journey, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its short duration and focused profile, this drive is ideal for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

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

25.3 miles from Durham, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

This highway-focused drive offers a predominantly high-speed experience, with 81% of the journey on major roadways like the Triangle Expressway and Durham Freeway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.7 miles on the Triangle Expressway, providing ample opportunity to maintain a consistent pace. While the route is largely highway-based, expect some transitions onto NC 42, which may offer a slightly different driving feel as you approach your destination. The overall character is efficient and direct, minimizing time spent on slower local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Triangle Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Triangle Expressway and NC 42. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Dillard Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Dillard Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Dillard Street

Turn right onto South Dillard Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Fayetteville Road

Turn right onto Fayetteville Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
11.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NC 540 Toll South: Sanford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward NC 540 Toll South: Sanford
6
22.3 mi into trip | ~27m in | Old US 1 Highway

Turn right onto Old US 1 Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Triangle Expressway 13.7 mi 14m
NC 42 8.9 mi 12m
Durham Freeway 6.7 mi 8m
Old US 1 Highway 6.5 mi 8m
Old US Highway 1 5.1 mi 7m
Corinth Road 5.1 mi 7m
Broadway Road 1.7 mi 2m
North Main Street 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Triangle Expressway — 13.7 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Broadway, NC.

1

Start on East Main Street

0.2 mi · 42 sec · East Main Street
2

Turn right onto South Dillard Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Dillard Street
3

Turn left onto East Pettigrew Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · East Pettigrew Street
4

Turn right onto Fayetteville Road

472 ft · 21 sec · Fayetteville Road
Use the right lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto NC 147

6.7 mi · 8 min · Durham Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on NC 885 Toll

3.6 mi · 3 min · Triangle Expressway
Toward NC 885 Toll South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll South: Sanford Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on NC 540 Toll

10 mi · 10 min · Triangle Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 34 sec
Exit 57 Toward South Salem Street
11

Turn right onto Old US 1 Highway

6.5 mi · 8 min · Old US 1 Highway
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on Old US Highway 1

5.1 mi · 7 min · Old US Highway 1
13

Turn left onto Corinth Road

5.1 mi · 7 min · Corinth Road
14

Turn sharp right onto NC 42

8.9 mi · 12 min · NC 42
15

Continue on NC 42

98 ft · 6 sec · Avents Ferry Road
16

Turn left onto Broadway Road

1.7 mi · 2 min · Broadway Road
17

Continue on North Main Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
18

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

For this short 1-hour drive, flexibility is key. You can leave at any time of day without needing to split the trip, and the $8 fuel cost makes it easy to plan for. Since there are no specific stops recommended, consider using your departure or arrival time to grab a meal or coffee. Pay attention to the transitions as you move between the Triangle Expressway and NC 42, as this is where the road character might shift. A good tip for this route is to check traffic conditions on the Triangle Expressway before you depart, as it's your longest stretch and can sometimes experience delays.

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 25.3 miles from Durham, NC, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.7 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 11 miles or 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 25.3 miles or 31m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 55m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Durham, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Durham, NC

This is one driving day of about 50.6 miles and 1h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Durham, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Triangle Expressway for about 13.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.3 mi from Durham, NC · 31m into the drive

Downtown Apex, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Apex, NC

25 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

Cary, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apex, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Durham, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Broadway, NC

The final approach into Broadway, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.91 one way

$15.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $8.65 $17.30
premium $4.70 $9.36 $18.73
diesel $5.61 $11.17 $22.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.2 0 $5.31 $2.43
Efficient EV 12.7 0 $4.43 $2.02
EV Truck/SUV 20.2 0 $7.08 $3.24

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Durham, NC

Night in Durham on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Broadway, NC

Night in Broadway on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

16 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

1h 6m 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 Durham, NC to Broadway, NC covers 50.6 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Triangle Expressway, NC 42, Durham Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.3 miles from Durham, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.91 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Dillard Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Durham, NC to Broadway, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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