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Trip from Durham, NC to Rocky Point, NC

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

137.3 mi

221 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

7 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Rocky Point, NC, NC

Rocky Point, NC

vji krishna

Trip Overview

The drive from Durham, NC to Rocky Point, NC covers 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, Durham Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.47 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

68.6 miles from Durham, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 2h 32m highway drive covering 137.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 115 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 115 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. 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 13 significant decision points across 137.3 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 13 key points

These 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
6
16.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
39.7 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Durham, NC and Rocky Point, NC, road signs point toward Raleigh and Wilmington.

Raleigh

7.3 mi in | ~10m

Wilmington

41.4 mi in | ~49m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 115 mi 2h 4m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway 11.3 mi 12m
Durham Freeway 6.5 mi 8m
NC 210 0.8 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: I 40 — 115 mi, about 2h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Rocky Point, 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

8.7 mi · 10 min · I 40
Use the straight lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 40
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on I 40; US 64

3.2 mi · 3 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

1.7 mi · 1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto I 40

95 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward NC 210
16

Turn right onto NC 210

0.8 mi · 1 min · NC 210
17

Arrive at destination

NC 210

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 68.6 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.6 miles or 1h 18m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rocky Point, 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 137.3 miles and 2h 32m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 115 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68.6 mi from Durham, NC · 1h 18m into the drive

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raleigh, NC

69 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.

Popular next leg

Raleigh, NC to Rocky Point, NC

111.6 mi · 2h 2m

Pacing Suggestions

Goldsboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from Durham, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115 miles.

Arriving in Rocky Point, NC

The final approach into Rocky Point, 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 Rocky Point, NC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 137.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.47 one way

$42.94 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $23.48 $46.95
premium $4.70 $25.41 $50.82
diesel $5.61 $30.31 $60.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Durham, NC - Fayetteville Rd - Tesla Supercharger

Durham, NC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Shops at Erwin Mill

Durham, NC

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Woodcroft Shopping Center

Durham, NC

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

111 W Chapel Hill St

Durham, NC

EV Connect

3 DCFC

Comfort Inn & Suites Durham near Duke University

Durham, NC

UNIVERSAL

2 DCFC

Michael Jordan Nissan

Durham, NC

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

Hendrick Chevrolet

Durham, NC

Non-Networked

1 DCFC

eVgo Network: 2 Non-Networked: 2 EV Connect: 1 UNIVERSAL: 1 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.2 0 $14.42 $6.59
Efficient EV 34.3 0 $12.01 $5.49
EV Truck/SUV 54.9 0 $19.22 $8.79

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Durham, NC

Night in Durham on Tuesday

Local time

10:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rocky Point, NC

Night in Rocky Point on Tuesday

Local time

10:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

2 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 32m 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 Rocky Point, NC covers 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, 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 68.6 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 $21.47 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 137.3 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 Rocky Point, NC, road signs point toward Raleigh and Wilmington.

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