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Trip from Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

129.6 mi

209 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

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

Downtown Pembroke, NC, NC

Pembroke, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC covers 129.6 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Dillard Street, East Pettigrew Street, Fayetteville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.27 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

64.8 miles from Durham, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 129.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 129.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Dillard Street 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Dillard Street
East Pettigrew Street
Fayetteville Road
Durham Freeway
I 40 East
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
SR 42
I-95 South

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Dillard Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Pembroke, 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 · 25 sec · East Pettigrew Street
4

Turn right onto Fayetteville Road

472 ft · 22 sec · Fayetteville Road
5

Take the ramp left

0.2 mi · 20 sec
6

Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway

6.5 mi · 8 min · Durham Freeway
7

Take the exit slight left toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh

0.8 mi · 58 sec · I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
8

Merge slight right

8.7 mi · 10 min
9

Keep slight left

9.5 mi · 10 min
10

Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

3.2 mi · 3 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
11

Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
12

Keep slight left

2.1 mi · 2 min
13

Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

1.7 mi · 1 min · SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
14

Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

14 mi · 15 min · I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
15

Take the exit slight right toward I-95 South: Benson, Fayetteville

0.6 mi · 1 min · I-95 South: Benson, Fayetteville
16

Merge slight left

25 mi · 29 min
17

Keep slight left

38 mi · 42 min
18

Take the exit slight right toward NC 72, NC 711: Lumberton, Pembroke

0.3 mi · 43 sec · NC 72, NC 711: Lumberton, Pembroke
19

Turn right onto South Caton Road

5.8 mi · 10 min · South Caton Road
20

Continue on Country Club Drive

3.7 mi · 6 min · Country Club Drive
21

Turn left onto Vance Street

121 ft · 5 sec · Vance Street
22

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 17m 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 29 miles or 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.8 miles or 1h 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke, 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 129.6 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Durham, 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 64.8 mi from Durham, NC · 1h 17m into the drive

town in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Coats, NC

65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coats, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.8 miles from Durham, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pembroke, NC

The final approach into Pembroke, 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 Pembroke, 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

$20.27 one way

$40.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $22.16 $44.32
premium $4.70 $23.99 $47.97
diesel $5.61 $28.61 $57.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.9 0 $13.61 $6.22
Efficient EV 32.4 0 $11.34 $5.18
EV Truck/SUV 51.8 0 $18.14 $8.29

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Afternoon in Durham on Thursday

Local time

3:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pembroke, NC

Afternoon in Pembroke on Thursday

Local time

3:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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 cooler at arrival

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

Road read

2h 35m 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 Pembroke, NC covers 129.6 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Dillard Street, East Pettigrew Street, Fayetteville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.8 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 $20.27 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.
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 Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Durham, NC to Pembroke, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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