Origin
Durham, NC
Evening in Durham on Sunday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, NC to Morrisville, NC
Drive Time
21m
Distance
14.9 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Spanning just 14.9 miles, this quick trip from Durham to Morrisville, North Carolina, is a straightforward connector within the Southeast region. You can easily complete the drive in about 21 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With fuel costs estimated at a modest $2, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Since both cities are located within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape or culture, keeping the travel time minimal. Whether you are commuting for business or heading out for a short visit, this transit requires no overnight stops. It is a practical, no-frills drive that gets you from point A to point B with maximum efficiency.
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
7.5 miles from Durham, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience as you transition between these two North Carolina hubs. Roughly 68% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares, including the Durham Freeway, I-40, and Airport Boulevard. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along the Durham Freeway, which spans 6.5 miles of the total distance. The personality of this drive is functional and fast-paced, prioritizing speed over scenic detours. Because it is a short, interstate-heavy route, you will spend most of your time maintaining highway speeds rather than navigating winding 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 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Durham Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Durham Freeway and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Fayetteville Road.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 14.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
8
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
7
11.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Airport Boulevard West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 284A
Toward Airport Boulevard West
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Airport Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Airport Boulevard West
Towns Along This Route
Between Durham, NC and Morrisville, NC, road signs point toward Raleigh and Airport Boulevard West.
Raleigh
7.3 mi in
|
~10m
Airport Boulevard West
11.7 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Durham Freeway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| I 40 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Dillard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pettigrew Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fayetteville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Durham Freeway
— 6.5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Morrisville, 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
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 284A
Toward Airport Boulevard West
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
294 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Airport Boulevard West
Use the right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Airport Boulevard
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Boulevard
Use the none lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto NC 54
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn slight right
16 ft
·
0 sec
Use the none lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 21-minute duration, you have total flexibility in your departure time, though you should keep an eye on traffic patterns common to I-40. Since this is a short, direct trip, there is no need to plan for mid-way rest stops or complex fueling logistics. A $2 fuel budget confirms that you can easily make this trip on a single tank without worry. Your best strategy is to simply time your departure to avoid peak commuting hours on the major interstates involved. Keep your focus on the Airport Boulevard transition, as this is where you will exit the main highway system to reach your final destination in Morrisville.
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 7.5 miles from Durham, NC, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.5 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 14.9 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.5 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morrisville, 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.
+
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 Durham, NC
This is one driving day of about 14.9 miles and 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Durham, 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.
The longest stretch is on Durham Freeway for about 6.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.5 mi from Durham, NC · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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
Arriving in Morrisville, NC
The final approach into Morrisville, 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 Morrisville, 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
$2.38 one way
$4.77 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| premium | $4.78 | $2.80 | $5.61 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Morrisville, NC
Evening in Morrisville on Sunday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
1 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
21m 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 Morrisville, NC covers 14.9 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Durham Freeway, I 40, Airport 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 7.5 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 $2.38 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 14.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Durham, NC and Morrisville, NC, road signs point toward Raleigh and Airport Boulevard West.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Durham, NC or browse trips ending in Morrisville, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Durham, NC or Morrisville, NC on MapSof.net.