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Trip from Reidsville, NC to Durham, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

59.7 mi

96 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

city in North Carolina, United States

Reidsville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Reidsville to Durham, you are looking at a straightforward 71.2-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 8 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local streets like Richardson Drive, Barnes Street, and West Webb Avenue rather than major interstates. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the duration of the trip. Since both cities are located within North Carolina, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two communities. It is a practical, no-fuss route that serves as an efficient link between the two locations.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 59.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Forget about monotonous highway cruising on this trip, as the route consists entirely of local roads with a 0% highway share. You should prepare for a turn-heavy drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless interstate trek. Because the longest stretch of road is essentially zero miles on Richardson Drive, you will be navigating frequent intersections and turns throughout the entire 71.2-mile distance. The experience is best described as a technical, local-focused drive that keeps you engaged with the changing landscape. Expect the road personality to remain consistent from start to finish, prioritizing local connectivity over high-speed travel.

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.
NC 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 87 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.2 miles in near NC 87; NC 100 / West Webb Avenue.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 23.2 miles (NC 87; NC 100 / West Webb Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
23.2 mi into trip | ~28m in | NC 87; NC 100 / West Webb Avenue

Turn left onto NC 87; NC 100 / West Webb Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
28.2 mi into trip | ~35m in | NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street

Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
44.4 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 85; NC 86 Truck

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck toward I 85 North: Durham

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North: Durham
8
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | NC 147 / Durham Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke Univ...
7
59 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Take the exit toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Reidsville, NC and Durham, NC, road signs point toward Duke University, Carolina Central University and Research Triangle Park.

Duke University

53.8 mi in | ~1h 6m | via NC 147

Carolina Central University

53.8 mi in | ~1h 6m | via NC 147

Research Triangle Park

53.8 mi in | ~1h 6m | via NC 147

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NC 87 17.5 mi 20m
Sam Hunt Freeway 14.3 mi 16m
I 85 9.4 mi 10m
Durham Freeway 5.2 mi 6m
West Webb Avenue 4.7 mi 6m
Barnes Street 4.5 mi 6m
West Harden Street 0.9 mi 1m
East Harden Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: NC 87 — 17.5 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Reidsville, NC and Durham, NC.

1

Start on South Scales Street

0.6 mi · 56 sec · South Scales Street
2

Turn left onto Richardson Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Richardson Drive
3

Turn right onto Barnes Street

4.5 mi · 6 min · Barnes Street
4

Continue on NC 87

17 mi · 20 min · NC 87
5

Turn left onto NC 87; NC 100

4.7 mi · 6 min · West Webb Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on NC 87

0.3 mi · 27 sec · West Elm Street
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Harden Street
Use the left lane.
8

Enter roundabout onto NC 54

78 ft · 1 sec · East Harden Street
9

Continue on NC 54

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Harden Street
10

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
11

Merge onto I 40; I 85

14 mi · 16 min · Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck

9.4 mi · 10 min · I 85; NC 86 Truck
Toward I 85 North: Durham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147

5.2 mi · 6 min · Durham Freeway
Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

512 ft · 12 sec
Toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on Morehead Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Morehead Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business

0.4 mi · 58 sec · South Roxboro Street
Use the left lane.
17

Turn left onto East Main Street

100 ft · 2 sec · East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18

Arrive at destination

East Main Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.8 mi from Reidsville, NC · 38m into the drive

Downtown Glen Raven, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glen Raven, NC

30 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

Glen Raven, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

City of Graham, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Reidsville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Durham, NC

The final approach into Durham, 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

$9.34 one way

$18.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.21 $20.42
premium $4.70 $11.05 $22.10
diesel $5.61 $13.18 $26.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.9 0 $6.27 $2.87
Efficient EV 14.9 0 $5.22 $2.39
EV Truck/SUV 23.9 0 $8.36 $3.82

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Reidsville, NC

Morning in Reidsville on Friday

Local time

6:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Durham, NC

Morning in Durham on Friday

Local time

6:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°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

23 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 14m 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 Reidsville, NC to Durham, NC covers 59.7 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are NC 87, Sam Hunt Freeway, I 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from Reidsville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.34 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 59.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 23.2 miles (NC 87; NC 100 / West Webb Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.4 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Reidsville, NC and Durham, NC, road signs point toward Duke University, Carolina Central University and Research Triangle Park.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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