Origin
Raleigh, NC
Late night in Raleigh on Saturday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raleigh, NC to Hillsborough, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
38.7 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Raleigh, NC to Hillsborough, NC covers 38.7 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dan K. Moore Frwy, Wade Avenue, Western Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.4 miles on Dan K. Moore Frwy. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 38.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 52m drive with frequent turns across 38.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 27.4 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 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Gorman Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.7 miles you will encounter 7 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 7 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 straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Hillsborough
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward Hillsborough
5
38.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
West King Street
Turn left onto West King Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dan K. Moore Frwy | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Western Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Churton Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Old NC 86 | 1.1 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
— 27.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Hillsborough, 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
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 261
Toward Hillsborough
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Old NC 86
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Old NC 86
12
Continue on US 70 Business
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Churton Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto West King Street
96 ft
·
4 sec
·
West King Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West King Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Raleigh, NC · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hillsborough, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Hillsborough, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.05 one way
$12.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.62 | $13.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.16 | $14.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Hillsborough, NC
Late night in Hillsborough on Saturday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
52m 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 Hillsborough, NC covers 38.7 miles and takes about 52m 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 19.3 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 $6.05 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 38.7 miles you will encounter 7 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.
The route from Raleigh, NC to Hillsborough, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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