Origin
Raleigh, NC
Afternoon in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
3:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC
Drive Time
18m
Distance
15.2 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Apex, NC
Daniel Smyth
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Raleigh to Apex, you are in for a quick 15.2-mile journey that typically takes about 18 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, making it a straightforward drive that is easily managed in a single day. With a fuel budget of just $2, this trip is highly economical and requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via South Salisbury Street, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, and Western Boulevard. Because this is such a short commute, it serves as a perfect, low-stress transition between these two neighboring communities.
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
7.6 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You won't encounter long, monotonous stretches here, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 0 miles on South Salisbury Street. Instead, you will be navigating urban and suburban infrastructure that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. The character of the road is consistent, focusing on local street navigation that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. It is a practical, functional drive that prioritizes connectivity over scenic highway cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Salisbury 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 Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 18m 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 Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Salisbury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ten Ten Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Center Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Salem Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Salisbury Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on East South Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East South Street
2
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Salisbury Street
3
Turn sharp right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
4
Continue on Western Boulevard
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Western Boulevard
5
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
6
Merge slight left
7.9 mi
·
9 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward Ten Ten Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Ten Ten Road
8
Turn left onto Center Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
9
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Salem Street
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Salem Street
10
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 18-minute trip, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without a break. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS before pulling out of Raleigh to ensure you are comfortable with the sequence of turns onto Western Boulevard. Keep your fuel costs in mind, as the $2 estimate is quite modest for such a brief transit. Use this efficiency to your advantage by planning your arrival in Apex to coincide exactly with your schedule's needs.
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 7.6 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 9m 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 15.2 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.6 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC
This is one driving day of about 15.2 miles and 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Raleigh, 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 7.6 mi from Raleigh, NC · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.6 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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 Apex, 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
$2.43 one way
$4.87 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
| premium | $4.78 | $2.86 | $5.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.38 | $6.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Apex, NC
Afternoon in Apex on Sunday
Local time
3:28 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
1 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
18m 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 Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC covers 15.2 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Salisbury Street, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Western Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.6 miles from Raleigh, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.43 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 Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 18m 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 Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Raleigh, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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