Origin
Elizabeth City, NC
Afternoon in Elizabeth City on Monday
Local time
3:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC
Drive Time
2h 58m
Distance
187.5 mi
302 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 47m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC covers 187.5 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Hughes Boulevard, Rolesville Road, Marks Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.01 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
93.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 187.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Hughes Boulevard 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC is easy. At 2h 58m 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Hughes Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rolesville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marks Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Horton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Buffaloe Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northern Wake Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glenwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Hughes Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on Providence Road
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Providence Road
2
Turn right onto South Hughes Boulevard
64 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
South Hughes Boulevard
3
Continue straight
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
4
Continue straight
28 mi
·
29 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward Rolesville Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Rolesville Road
6
Keep slight right to continue on Rolesville Road
308 ft
·
8 sec
·
Rolesville Road
7
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Rolesville Road
8
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Marks Creek Road
9
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Horton Road
10
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Buffaloe Road
11
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Northern Wake Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 70 West: Durham
14
Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Glenwood Avenue
15
Turn left onto T.W. Alexander Drive
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
T.W. Alexander Drive
16
Take the ramp slight right toward I 885 North: Durham
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 885 North: Durham
17
Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Durham Freeway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Durham Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Durham Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
20
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
21
Turn right onto South Roxboro Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
22
Turn left onto East Main Street
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
23
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 93.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, or about 1h 29m 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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durham, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC
This is one driving day of about 187.5 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth City, 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 93.8 mi from Elizabeth City, NC · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Durham, NC
The final approach into Durham, 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 Durham, 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
$30.01 one way
$60.01 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $32.69 | $65.39 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.27 | $70.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.66 | $83.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.69 | $9.00 |
| Efficient EV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.41 | $7.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75 | 0 | $26.25 | $12.00 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Durham, NC
Afternoon in Durham on Monday
Local time
3:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
24 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 58m 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC covers 187.5 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Hughes Boulevard, Rolesville Road, Marks Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.8 miles from Elizabeth City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.01 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC is easy. At 2h 58m 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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