Origin
Rocky Mount, NC
Late night in Rocky Mount on Friday
Local time
2:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rocky Mount, NC to Kinston, NC
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
57 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
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.
Rocky Mount, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Kinston, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 57-mile journey from Rocky Mount, NC to Kinston, NC can be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate US 13, Moyton Drive, and North Hathaway Boulevard. With only a 31% highway share, expect a mixed driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. Since it's a relatively quick drive within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, offering plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 57 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 (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is largely defined by its mixed nature, with only 31% of the route on highways. You'll experience stretches on US 13, the longest of which is 17.1 miles, offering a consistent pace. The roads will transition, moving from more direct highway segments to local roads like Moyton Drive and North Hathaway Boulevard as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll have opportunities for both steady travel and more localized navigation, keeping the drive engaging without being overly demanding.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 13 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hill Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 24m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Hill Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.8 miles (US 301 BUS / South Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (US 301 / South Wesleyan Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hill Street
Turn sharp right onto Hill Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 301 BUS / South Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 301 BUS / South Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 301 / South Wesleyan Boulevard
Turn left onto US 301 / South Wesleyan Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
56.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Walls Street
Turn left onto Walls Street
Navigation decision point
5
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 13 | 17.1 mi | 26m |
| Moyton Drive | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| North Hathaway Boulevard | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| Nash Street East | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| South Church Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South Wesleyan Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Raleigh Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| M.L.K. Jr Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 13
— 17.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount, NC and Kinston, NC.
1
Start on Cokey Road
425 ft
·
18 sec
·
Cokey Road
2
Turn sharp right onto Hill Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Hill Street
3
Turn left onto East Raleigh Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Raleigh Boulevard
4
Turn left onto US 301 BUS
214 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Franklin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn straight onto US 301 BUS
490 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Bassett Street
6
Turn right onto US 301 BUS
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
South Church Street
7
Turn left onto US 301
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Wesleyan Boulevard
8
Continue on US 301
12 mi
·
17 min
·
North Hathaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 264 Alternate; NC 58
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
M.L.K. Jr Parkway
10
Continue on US 264 Alternate; NC 58
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Nash Street East
11
Continue on NC 58
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Moyton Drive
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 13; NC 58
17 mi
·
26 min
·
US 13; NC 58
13
Turn right onto West Blount Street
264 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Blount Street
14
Turn left onto Walls Street
315 ft
·
19 sec
·
Walls Street
15
Turn left
102 ft
·
7 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.5 mi from Rocky Mount, NC · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Rocky Mount, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kinston, NC
The final approach into Kinston, 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
$8.91 one way
$17.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.75 | $19.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.58 | $25.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Kinston, NC
Late night in Kinston on Friday
Local time
2:51 AM
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
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 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 Rocky Mount, NC to Kinston, NC covers 57 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 US 13, Moyton Drive, North Hathaway Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.5 miles from Rocky Mount, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.91 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 1h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hill Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.8 miles (US 301 BUS / South Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (US 301 / South Wesleyan Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
The route from Rocky Mount, NC to Kinston, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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