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Trip from Raleigh, NC to Rocky Point, NC

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

111.6 mi

180 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 54m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

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

Downtown Rocky Point, NC, NC

Rocky Point, NC

vji krishna

Trip Overview

The drive from Raleigh, NC to Rocky Point, NC covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, NC 210 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.45 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

55.8 miles from Raleigh, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 2h 2m highway drive covering 111.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 96.9 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 96.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 111.6 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 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway toward I 40 East: Wilmington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
6
11.9 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
14 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
5
15.7 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington

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 Rocky Point, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.

Wilmington

15.7 mi in | ~19m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 96.9 mi 1h 43m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway 10.3 mi 11m
NC 210 0.8 mi 1m
Hammond Road 0.7 mi 1m
South Blount Street 0.6 mi 1m
East South Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 96.9 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Rocky Point, NC.

1

Start on East South Street

506 ft · 21 sec · East South Street
2

Turn right onto South Blount Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Blount Street
3

Continue on Hammond Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hammond Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
5

Merge onto I 40; US 64

2.2 mi · 2 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

1.7 mi · 1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 40

95 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward NC 210
11

Turn right onto NC 210

0.8 mi · 1 min · NC 210
12

Arrive at destination

NC 210

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 55.8 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.9 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 Rocky Point, 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 111.6 miles and 2h 2m.

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 I 40 for about 96.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.8 mi from Raleigh, NC · 1h 2m into the drive

city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

56 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

Goldsboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.8 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 96.9 miles.

Arriving in Rocky Point, NC

The final approach into Rocky Point, 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 Rocky Point, NC.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Moores Creek National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 111.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.45 one way

$34.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $19.08 $38.16
premium $4.70 $20.65 $41.31
diesel $5.61 $24.64 $49.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36
Efficient EV 27.9 0 $9.76 $4.46
EV Truck/SUV 44.6 0 $15.62 $7.14

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Raleigh, NC

Night in Raleigh on Tuesday

Local time

10:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rocky Point, NC

Night in Rocky Point on Tuesday

Local time

10:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

3 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

2h 2m 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 Rocky Point, NC covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, NC 210. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 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 $17.45 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 111.6 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 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Raleigh, NC to Rocky Point, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.

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