Origin
Raleigh, NC
Evening in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raleigh, NC to Burlington, NC
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Burlington, NC
Troy Tumbin
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across North Carolina, the 57.3-mile trip from Raleigh to Burlington is a straightforward option. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the journey, which keeps this outing budget-friendly. Your path primarily utilizes the Dan K. Moore Freeway, Wade Avenue, and Western Boulevard to navigate out of the state capital. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you won't experience drastic shifts in geography, but the trip offers a reliable connection between these two hubs.
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
28.7 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this route. With only 4% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that demand more active attention. You will cover your longest uninterrupted stretch of 44.9 miles while on the Dan K. Moore Freeway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. The transition from the urban sprawl of Raleigh into the surrounding local connectors creates a varied driving experience. Be prepared for a more technical feel behind the wheel as you move away from the high-speed transit sections.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dan K. Moore Frwy is the longest continuous segment at about 44.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Gorman Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.3 miles (Gorman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (Wade Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 40 / Dan K. Moore Frwy.): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Gorman Street
Turn right onto Gorman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Wade Avenue
Turn left onto Wade Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 40 / Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Merge onto I 40 / Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
5
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54 / East Harden Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Raleigh, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Chapel Hill along the way.
Chapel Hill
53 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dan K. Moore Frwy | 44.9 mi | 51m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Western Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| NC 87 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Harden Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gorman Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Faircloth Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dan K. Moore Frwy
— 44.9 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on East South Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East South Street
2
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
0.2 mi
·
32 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
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Gorman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gorman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Faircloth Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Faircloth Street
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left onto Wade Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Wade Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Wade Avenue
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Wade Avenue
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
45 mi
·
51 min
·
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto NC 54
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
12
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
13
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
14
Take the exit onto NC 87
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 87
Use the none lane.
15
Turn left onto South Worth Street
381 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Worth Street
16
Turn right onto West Front Street
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Front Street
17
Turn right onto US 70; NC 62
166 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Church Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 1-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily fit this trip into a morning or afternoon window without needing to worry about complex stop planning, as there are no scheduled stops required for the 57.3-mile distance. Since the route relies heavily on local roads, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain your projected 1h 12m travel time. Fuel up before you leave Raleigh to avoid searching for a station during the turn-heavy portions of your commute. Remember that the lack of highway miles means traffic signals and local intersections will dictate your pace more than posted speed limits.
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 28.7 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.9 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 57.3 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.7 miles or 37m 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
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 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 57.3 miles and 1h 12m.
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.
The longest stretch is on Dan K. Moore Frwy for about 44.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.7 mi from Raleigh, NC · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 57.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Raleigh, 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
$9.17 one way
$18.34 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.99 | $19.98 |
| premium | $4.78 | $10.78 | $21.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.73 | $25.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
6:35 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
2 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
1h 12m 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 Burlington, NC covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dan K. Moore Frwy, Wade Avenue, Western Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.7 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 $9.17 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.3 miles (Gorman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (Wade Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (I 40 / Dan K. Moore Frwy.): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Raleigh, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Chapel Hill along the way.
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