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Trip from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

73.5 mi

118 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Tarboro, NC, NC

Tarboro, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Blount Street, Hammond Road, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.49 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 73.5 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.
South Blount Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Blount Street
Hammond Road
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
I 87 North
West Saint James Street
Trade Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Blount Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East South Street

505 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 slight right

0.2 mi · 31 sec
5

Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

2.2 mi · 2 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

17 mi · 18 min · I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
8

Keep slight left

48 mi · 52 min
9

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 36 sec
10

Keep slight left

121 ft · 9 sec
11

Turn left

0.4 mi · 44 sec
12

Turn right onto West Saint James Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · West Saint James Street
13

Turn right onto Trade Street

23 ft · 1 sec · Trade Street
14

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.8 mi from Raleigh, NC · 42m into the drive

Downtown Bunn, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bunn, NC

37 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

West Raleigh, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bunn, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tarboro, NC

The final approach into Tarboro, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.49 one way

$22.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $12.57 $25.13
premium $4.70 $13.60 $27.21
diesel $5.61 $16.23 $32.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.1 0 $7.72 $3.53
Efficient EV 18.4 0 $6.43 $2.94
EV Truck/SUV 29.4 0 $10.29 $4.70

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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

Night in Raleigh on Thursday

Local time

11:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tarboro, NC

Night in Tarboro on Thursday

Local time

11:47 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

2 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

1h 24m 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 Tarboro, NC covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Blount Street, Hammond Road, Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.8 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 $11.49 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.
The drive from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Raleigh, NC to Tarboro, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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