Origin
Raleigh, NC
Evening in Raleigh on Thursday
Local time
6:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raleigh, NC to Laurel Hill, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
96.9 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Laurel Hill, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Raleigh, NC to Laurel Hill, NC covers 96.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 440, US 1, US 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.9 miles on I 440. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.15 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.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 96.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 6m highway drive covering 96.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 440 and US 1. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.9 miles on I 440.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 440 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 440 and US 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Salisbury Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Salisbury Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 440; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.9 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Salisbury Street
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 440; US 1
Merge onto I 440; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
71 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street
Turn left onto US 15; US 501; NC 211 / Poindexter Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
76.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
US 15;US 501
Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 440 | 47.9 mi | 55m |
| US 1 | 18 mi | 23m |
| US 15 | 14.5 mi | 19m |
| Poindexter Street | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Old Wire Road | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| Western Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Morgan Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 440
— 47.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Laurel Hill, 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
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
6
Merge onto I 440; US 1
48 mi
·
55 min
·
I 440; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
8
Merge onto US 1
18 mi
·
23 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto US 15; US 501; NC 211
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Poindexter Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto US 15;US 501
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 15;US 501
11
Continue on US 15;US 501
199 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 15;US 501
12
Turn straight onto US 15; US 501
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 15; US 501
13
Enter roundabout onto NC 144
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
Old Wire Road
14
Continue on NC 144
5.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Old Wire Road
15
Turn straight onto NC 144
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Morgan Street
16
Turn left onto Malloy Avenue
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Malloy Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Malloy Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 59m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel Hill, 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 96.9 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Raleigh, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 440 for about 47.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.4 mi from Raleigh, NC · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Laurel Hill, NC
The final approach into Laurel Hill, 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 Laurel Hill, 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
$15.15 one way
$30.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.57 | $33.14 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.93 | $35.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.39 | $42.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.17 | $4.65 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Laurel Hill, NC
Evening in Laurel Hill on Thursday
Local time
6:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Sanford, NC
48 mi in
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
14 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
2h 6m 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 Laurel Hill, NC covers 96.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 440, US 1, US 15. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 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 $15.15 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 is a straightforward 2h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Salisbury Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 440; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.9 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Raleigh, NC to Laurel Hill, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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