Origin
Rocky Mount, NC
Afternoon in Rocky Mount on Thursday
Local time
4:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
125 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 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
Southern Pines, NC
Alex Borelli
Trip Overview
The drive from Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC covers 125 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hill Street, Arlington Street, Atlantic Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.55 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.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Rocky Mount, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 125 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 25m drive with frequent turns across 125 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hill 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 Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC is easy. At 2h 25m 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 Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hill Street | — | — |
| Arlington Street | — | — |
| Atlantic Avenue | — | — |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | — | — |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | — | — |
| I 440 East | — | — |
| US 1 South | — | — |
| Claude E | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Hill Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount, NC and Southern Pines, NC.
1
Start on Cokey Road
427 ft
·
19 sec
·
Cokey Road
2
Turn sharp right onto Hill Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Hill Street
3
Turn right onto Arlington Street
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
Arlington Street
4
Keep slight left to continue on Arlington Street
269 ft
·
7 sec
·
Arlington Street
5
Continue on Atlantic Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
7
Merge slight left
51 mi
·
55 min
8
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
9
Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
10
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
11
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
12
Continue on Dan K Moore Freeway
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 440 East, US 1, US 64 West: Raleigh, Wake Forest, Sanford, Asheboro
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 440 East, US 1, US 64 West: Raleigh, Wake Forest, Sanford, Asheboro
14
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
16
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 South, US 64 West: Sanford, Asheboro
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 1 South, US 64 West: Sanford, Asheboro
17
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
18
Keep slight left to continue on US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
19
Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
20
Continue on Jefferson Davis Highway
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Jefferson Davis Highway
21
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
22
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
18 min
23
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
24
Turn left onto West Pennsylvania Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pennsylvania Avenue
25
Arrive at your destination
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 62.5 miles from Rocky Mount, NC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southern Pines, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC
This is one driving day of about 125 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Rocky Mount, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.5 mi from Rocky Mount, NC · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Rocky Mount, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southern Pines, NC
The final approach into Southern Pines, 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 Southern Pines, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.55 one way
$39.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $21.37 | $42.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.13 | $46.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.60 | $55.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.13 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.94 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.50 | $8.00 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Southern Pines, NC
Afternoon in Southern Pines on Thursday
Local time
4:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
22 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 25m 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 Southern Pines, NC covers 125 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hill Street, Arlington Street, Atlantic Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.5 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 $19.55 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 Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC is easy. At 2h 25m 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 Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rocky Mount, NC to Southern Pines, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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