Origin
Kenly, NC
Afternoon in Kenly on Friday
Local time
1:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenly, NC to West Raleigh, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenly, NC
R9 Media Photo Collective
West Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Trip Overview
The drive from Kenly, NC to West Raleigh, NC covers 44.8 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 95, Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 57m highway drive covering 44.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.8 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 21 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 10.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 44.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 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 pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Selma, Pine Level, Goldsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Selma, Pine Level, Goldsboro
5
30.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
41.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 298B
Toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: R...
5
44.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Pullen Road
Enter roundabout onto Pullen Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
44.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Hillsborough Street
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kenly, NC and West Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Pine Level and Goldsboro.
Pine Level
11.1 mi in
|
~13m
Goldsboro
11.1 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| I 95 | 10 mi | 11m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 10 mi | 11m |
| US 70 | 9 mi | 11m |
| Western Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Saunders Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Church Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pullen Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 10.8 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenly, NC and West Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on this road
43 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 301
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
4
Merge onto I 95
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 95
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 70: Selma, Pine Level, Goldsboro
6
Turn right onto US 70
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
US 70
7
Continue on I 42
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
8
Merge onto I 40
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 298B
Toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh Downtown
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 70; US 401; NC 50
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Saunders Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Western Boulevard
12
Turn straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
13
Continue on Western Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn slight right
429 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Pullen Road
15
Turn right onto Pullen Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Pullen Road
16
Enter roundabout onto Pullen Road
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pullen Road
17
Continue on Pullen Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pullen Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
205 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
19
Continue on Hillsborough Street
503 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
20
Turn right onto Enterprise Street
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
Enterprise Street
21
Arrive at destination
Enterprise Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.4 mi from Kenly, NC · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Kenly, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Raleigh, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into West Raleigh, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.01 one way
$14.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.29 | $16.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
West Raleigh, NC
Afternoon in West Raleigh on Friday
Local time
1:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
57m 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 Kenly, NC to West Raleigh, NC covers 44.8 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 95, Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.4 miles from Kenly, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.01 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 44.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kenly, NC and West Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Pine Level and Goldsboro.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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