Origin
Knightdale, NC
Evening in Knightdale on Sunday
Local time
6:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
70.2 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Troy Tumbin
Trip Overview
The drive from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC covers 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Smithfield Road, Knightdale Boulevard, I 540 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.23 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.1 miles from Knightdale, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 70.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
South Smithfield 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 Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Smithfield Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Knightdale Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 540 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northern Wake Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glenwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Raleigh Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Miami Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Smithfield Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knightdale, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on Railroad Street
443 ft
·
21 sec
·
Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto South Smithfield Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Smithfield Road
3
Turn left onto Knightdale Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Knightdale Boulevard
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 540 West
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 540 West
5
Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Northern Wake Expressway
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 70 West: Durham
7
Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenwood Avenue
8
Continue on New Raleigh Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
New Raleigh Highway
9
Continue on South Miami Boulevard
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
South Miami Boulevard
10
Keep slight left
26 mi
·
29 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
12
Turn right onto East Harden Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Harden Street
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Harden Street
14
Exit the roundabout onto East Harden Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
15
Take the exit straight
2.3 mi
·
3 min
16
Turn left onto South Worth Street
381 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Worth Street
17
Turn right onto West Front Street
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Front Street
18
Turn right onto South Church Street
167 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Church Street
19
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.1 miles from Knightdale, NC, or about 36m 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 70.2 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.1 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knightdale, 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 Knightdale, NC
This is one driving day of about 70.2 miles and 1h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Knightdale, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.1 mi from Knightdale, NC · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 70.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.1 miles from Knightdale, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Burlington, NC
The final approach into Burlington, 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 Burlington, 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
$11.23 one way
$22.47 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $12.24 | $24.48 |
| premium | $4.78 | $13.21 | $26.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.60 | $31.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.37 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Burlington, NC
Evening in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
6:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 13m 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 Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC covers 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Smithfield Road, Knightdale Boulevard, I 540 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.1 miles from Knightdale, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.23 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.
The drive from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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