Origin
Raleigh, NC
Morning in Raleigh on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raleigh, NC to Southport, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
159.4 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 9m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 25m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Southport, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Raleigh, NC to Southport, NC is 159.4 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey. You'll mainly be on major roads, so it’s efficient if you’re looking to get to your destination without much fuss. Consider this route when you need a direct path to the coast.
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
79.7 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 159.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 40, which includes a longest stretch of 105.4 miles on this interstate. The experience is largely that of a steady, uninterrupted cruise, characteristic of long-distance highway travel. Expect minimal deviations from high-speed routes, allowing for consistent progress towards Southport. The route maintains its highway character for most of the distance.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 105.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.9 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 159.4 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 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6
119.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtl...
8
138.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
6
158.2 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
NC 211 / North Howe Street
Turn left onto NC 211 / North Howe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Raleigh, NC and Southport, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
Wilmington
15.7 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 40
Myrtle Beach
119.2 mi in
|
~2h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 105.4 mi | 1h 52m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| NC 87 | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Ocean Highway East | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| River Road Southeast | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| North Howe Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hammond Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 105.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Southport, 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
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
12
Merge onto I 140
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 17
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto NC 87
12 mi
·
16 min
·
NC 87
16
Continue on NC 87; NC 133
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
River Road Southeast
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto NC 211
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Howe Street
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
NC 211
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 3m estimated duration, starting your drive from Raleigh, NC in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Southport, NC with plenty of daylight. With only one stop typically needed for a drive of this length, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel; the $25 budget suggests you'll need at least one fill-up, so plan your stop around available services on I 40. Since this is a single-day trip, you can depart at your leisure, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
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 79.7 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.4 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southport, 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 159.4 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 105.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.7 mi from Raleigh, NC · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.7 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.4 miles.
Arriving in Southport, NC
The final approach into Southport, 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 Southport, NC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.93 one way
$49.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $27.25 | $54.51 |
| premium | $4.70 | $29.50 | $59.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.19 | $70.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.95 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.32 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Southport, NC
Morning in Southport on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
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
3h 3m 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 Southport, NC covers 159.4 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, John Jay Burney Jr Freeway, NC 87. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.7 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 $24.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 159.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Raleigh, NC and Southport, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
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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