Origin
Oak Island, NC
Evening in Oak Island on Sunday
Local time
6:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
186.6 mi
300 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 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Island, NC
Levi McRea
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC covers 186.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Middleton Street, Midway Road Southeast, Old Ocean Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.86 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
93.3 miles from Oak Island, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 186.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Middleton Street 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 Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Middleton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Midway Road Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Ocean Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ocean Highway East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 140 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Middleton Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Island, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on South Middleton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Middleton Avenue
2
Continue on North Middleton Street
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Middleton Street
3
Continue on Midway Road Southeast
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Midway Road Southeast
4
Turn right onto Old Ocean Highway
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
5
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on Old Ocean Highway
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
7
Turn right onto Ocean Highway East
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Ocean Highway East
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
20 mi
·
22 min
·
I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
11
Merge slight left onto Michael Jordan Highway
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
12
Keep slight left
33 mi
·
38 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 885 North: Downtown Durham
14
Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Durham Freeway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Durham Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Durham Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
17
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
18
Turn right onto South Roxboro Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
19
Turn left onto East Main Street
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
20
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 93.3 miles from Oak Island, NC, or about 1h 25m 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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 20m
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 Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, NC
This is one driving day of about 186.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oak Island, 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 93.3 mi from Oak Island, NC · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 93.3 miles from Oak Island, 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
$29.86 one way
$59.73 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $32.54 | $65.07 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.10 | $70.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.46 | $82.91 |
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: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.59 | $8.96 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.33 | $7.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.12 | $11.94 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Durham, NC
Evening in Durham on Sunday
Local time
6:04 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
17 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 51m 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 Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC covers 186.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Middleton Street, Midway Road Southeast, Old Ocean Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.3 miles from Oak Island, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.86 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 Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oak Island, NC to Durham, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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