Origin
Leland, NC
Late night in Leland on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leland, NC to Burlington, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 35m
Distance
191.7 mi
309 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leland, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 191.7-mile drive from Leland, NC to Burlington, NC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US, staying within North Carolina for the entire journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $30, making it an economical choice. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so while it's not an overly long haul, planning for one stop is recommended to break up the drive. This trip is perfect for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
95.9 miles from Leland, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The road character on this route is predominantly highway, with 43% of the drive on interstates. You'll experience a mix of faster travel and potentially some more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 103.3 miles, primarily on Michael Jordan Highway, indicating a significant portion where you can maintain speed. Expect the drive to evolve as you transition between these different road types. This blend means you'll encounter both efficient travel segments and moments where the pace might adjust.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 103.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Village Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.7 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Misery Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Village Road
Turn right onto Village Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Mount Misery Road Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto Mount Misery Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
13.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
6
117.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
187.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leland, NC and Burlington, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Raleigh.
Wilmington
13.4 mi in
|
~15m
Raleigh
13.7 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan Highway | 103.3 mi | 1h 50m |
| I 40 | 69.5 mi | 1h 19m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| NC 87 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Harden Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Mount Misery Road Northeast | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Leland School Road Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Village Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leland, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on Post Office Road Northeast
282 ft
·
13 sec
·
Post Office Road Northeast
2
Turn right onto Lincoln Road Northeast
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Lincoln Road Northeast
3
Turn right onto Village Road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Village Road
4
Turn right onto Leland School Road Northeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Leland School Road Northeast
5
At end of road, turn right onto Mount Misery Road Northeast
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Misery Road Northeast
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
7
Merge onto I 140
11 mi
·
11 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
10
Merge onto I 40
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto NC 54
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
14
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
15
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
16
Take the exit onto NC 87
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 87
17
Turn left onto South Worth Street
381 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Worth Street
18
Turn right onto West Front Street
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Front Street
19
Turn right onto US 70; NC 62
166 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Church Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 35-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow ample time to reach Burlington without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing when and where to take a break, perhaps after the longest stretch on Michael Jordan Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer highway segments, to ensure you're prepared. The $30 fuel cost suggests budgeting for one fill-up might be prudent. This is a straightforward drive, so a morning departure is ideal.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 95.9 miles from Leland, NC, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.3 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 54m
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 Leland, 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 Leland, NC
This is one driving day of about 191.7 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Leland, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 103.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.9 mi from Leland, NC · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 95.9 miles from Leland, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.3 miles.
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.98 one way
$59.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $32.78 | $65.56 |
| premium | $4.70 | $35.48 | $70.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.32 | $84.65 |
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: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.13 | $9.20 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.77 | $7.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.84 | $12.27 |
Gas CO2
67 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
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
32 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
3h 35m 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 Leland, NC to Burlington, NC covers 191.7 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, I 40, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.9 miles from Leland, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.7 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Misery Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Leland, NC and Burlington, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Raleigh.
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