Origin
Holly Ridge, NC
Afternoon in Holly Ridge on Monday
Local time
1:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
124.7 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Holly Ridge, NC
Budget Bizar
Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Trip Overview
Traveling from Holly Ridge to Raleigh covers 124.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive within North Carolina, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating primarily via NC 24, NC 50, and I-40, you will transition from the Southeast coastal region toward the inland capital. This route is an efficient way to cross the state, making it ideal if you prioritize speed and simplicity over a leisurely pace.
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
62.4 miles from Holly Ridge, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a trip defined by efficiency, as highway travel accounts for 75% of your time behind the wheel. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 59.8 miles on NC 24 before transitioning onto the interstate system. The road’s personality shifts from the local, state-maintained highways of the coast to the faster, more consistent flow of I-40. While the drive is focused on getting you to your destination quickly, the mix of road types keeps the experience from feeling purely like a monotonous interstate grind. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that allows you to settle into a steady rhythm.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ocean Road 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 Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 34m 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 Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Maple Hill Road North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sycamore Springs Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cypress Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| D S Williams Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Kenansville Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Person St | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hammond Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Ocean Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holly Ridge, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on Wilmington Highway
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wilmington Highway
2
Turn left onto Ocean Road
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Ocean Road
3
Continue straight
5.1 mi
·
7 min
4
Turn right onto Old Maple Hill Road North
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Maple Hill Road North
5
Continue on Sycamore Springs Road
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sycamore Springs Road
6
Turn right onto Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Cypress Creek Road
7
Continue straight
3.0 mi
·
4 min
8
At the end of the road, turn left
1.9 mi
·
2 min
9
Turn right
11 mi
·
14 min
10
Turn left onto D S Williams Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
D S Williams Road
11
Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South Kenansville Bypass
12
Take the exit right
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
13
Keep slight left
14 mi
·
15 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward Person St, Hammond Rd
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Person St, Hammond Rd
15
Keep slight right
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
16
Turn straight onto Hammond Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Hammond Road
17
Continue on South Person Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Person Street
18
Turn left onto East South Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East South Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one well-timed stop will keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on the transition between the state highways and the interstate, as traffic patterns can change significantly once you merge onto I-40. Budget your $20 fuel expense ahead of time, as prices can vary between the smaller towns near Holly Ridge and the busier corridors leading into Raleigh. If you prefer to avoid the heaviest congestion, try to time your arrival to miss peak weekday commuting hours in the capital area. Use your one planned stop to stretch your legs before you hit the final stretch of your journey.
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 62.4 miles from Holly Ridge, 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.4 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Holly Ridge, 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 Holly Ridge, NC
This is one driving day of about 124.7 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Holly Ridge, 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 62.4 mi from Holly Ridge, NC · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 62.4 miles from Holly Ridge, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Raleigh, NC
The final approach into Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, 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
$19.96 one way
$39.91 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $21.74 | $43.49 |
| premium | $4.78 | $23.46 | $46.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.70 | $55.41 |
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: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.99 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.46 | $7.98 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Raleigh, NC
Afternoon in Raleigh on Monday
Local time
1:20 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
5 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
2h 34m 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 Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ocean Road, Old Maple Hill Road North, Sycamore Springs Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.4 miles from Holly Ridge, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.96 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 Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 34m 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 Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Holly Ridge, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Raleigh, NC
More trips to Raleigh, NC
Explore more options from Holly Ridge, NC or browse trips ending in Raleigh, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
Explore maps for Holly Ridge, NC or Raleigh, NC on MapSof.net.