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Trip from Raleigh, NC to Connelly Springs, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 38m

Distance

183.3 mi

295 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 26m ★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

town in North Carolina

Connelly Springs, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Raleigh, NC to Connelly Springs, NC covers 183.3 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Dan K. Moore Frwy, Wade Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110.2 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.66 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

91.7 miles from Raleigh, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 110.2 mi 2h 6m
Dan K. Moore Frwy 61.5 mi 1h 11m
Wade Avenue 3.7 mi 4m
US 70 2.8 mi 5m
Western Boulevard 2.5 mi 4m
Gorman Street 0.6 mi 1m
Faircloth Street 0.5 mi 1m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 110.2 mi, about 2h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Connelly Springs, 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
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 lanes.
9

Merge onto I 40

62 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

90 mi · 1 hr 42 min · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville Use the slight left lane.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 116 Toward Icard
14

At end of road, turn right onto Old N.C. Highway 10

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Old N.C. Highway 10
15

Turn left onto US 70

2.8 mi · 5 min · US 70
16

Arrive at destination

US 70

Trip Plan

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 91.7 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.2 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 40 miles or 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 91.7 miles or 1h 51m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Connelly Springs, 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 183.3 miles and 3h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Raleigh, 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 I 40 for about 110.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greensboro, NC

92 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

Hillsborough, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

High Point, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.7 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raleigh, North Carolina

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

2.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kyles Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kernersville, North Carolina

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 91.7

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13364974327

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Durham, North Carolina

2.8 mi

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 104.8

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Kyles Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 91.7

Kernersville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13364974327

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.2

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

1922

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.2

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+19849994195

Visit website

Taproot Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 170.3

Hickory, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18064078348

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 52.4

Haw River, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 26.2

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

+18889982546

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 52.4

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 52.4

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 52.4

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

EV Connect Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 26.2

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 26.2

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 26.2

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584390

Visit website

Nature Research Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19197079800

Visit website

Lake Crabtree County Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 13.1

Morrisville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+19194603390

Visit website

Safari Nation Winston-Salem

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 104.8

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13365233355

Visit website

Gold Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 39.3

Hillsborough, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19197321270

Visit website

Children's Museum of Alamance County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 52.4

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13362287997

Visit website

Piedmont Wildlife Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 26.2

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19194890900

Visit website

Graham Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 52.4

Haw River, North Carolina

+13365706718

Visit website

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 78.6

Greensboro, North Carolina

+13368529721

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 89.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.
6
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
77.3 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | I 40; US 220

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
89.9 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.66 one way

$57.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $31.34 $62.68
premium $4.70 $33.92 $67.85
diesel $5.61 $40.47 $80.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55 0 $19.25 $8.80
Efficient EV 45.8 0 $16.04 $7.33
EV Truck/SUV 73.3 0 $25.66 $11.73

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Raleigh, NC

Afternoon in Raleigh on Saturday

Local time

4:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Connelly Springs, NC

Afternoon in Connelly Springs on Saturday

Local time

4:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°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

20 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 38m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

183.3 mi in 3h 38m, mostly highway — 110.2 mi of that is on I 40.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.2 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Dan K. Moore Frwy. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Gorman Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 183.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

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 69.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Raleigh, NC to Connelly Springs, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.

Statesville

89.9 mi in | ~1h 49m | via I 40

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 183.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 110.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Connelly Springs, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 69.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Connelly Springs, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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