Origin
Sea Breeze, NC
Evening in Sea Breeze on Wednesday
Local time
8:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
138.3 mi
223 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 6m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sea Breeze, NC
Peter Xie
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Sea Breeze to Raleigh covers 138.3 miles and takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it transitions from the Southeast coast toward the state capital. You should budget about $22 for fuel to complete the transit. Since the route involves navigating turn-heavy local roads rather than long stretches of interstate, you will want to remain alert behind the wheel. Given the manageable duration, you can easily handle this drive in one go without needing an overnight stay. It is a straightforward trip that connects the coastal region directly to the inland hub of Raleigh.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.1 miles from Sea Breeze, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating through Carolina Beach Road, South College Road, and the Michael Jordan Highway. With 0% of the trip occurring on traditional highways, the route demands your full attention as you transition between local road segments. The character of the drive is defined by these constant adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of open road. You will find that the personality of the journey remains consistent throughout the 138.3-mile transit, requiring a steady and focused driving style from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Carolina Beach Road 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 15m 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 Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Beach Road | — | — |
| South College Road | — | — |
| Michael Jordan Highway | — | — |
| Rock Quarry Rd North | — | — |
| Rock Quarry Road | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | — | — |
| South Wilmington Street | — | — |
| East South Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Carolina Beach Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sea Breeze, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on Seabreeze Road South
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Seabreeze Road South
2
Turn right onto Carolina Beach Road
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Carolina Beach Road
3
Continue on South College Road
9.3 mi
·
15 min
·
South College Road
4
Continue on Michael Jordan Highway
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
5
Keep slight left
13 mi
·
13 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward Rock Quarry Rd North
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Rock Quarry Rd North
7
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
8
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
9
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
10
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
11
Turn left onto East South Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
East South Street
12
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule. You won't need to worry about complex stop planning, as the 2-hour and 15-minute duration is easily manageable without a formal itinerary. Keep in mind that because the route relies entirely on local roads, your pace may be dictated by local traffic patterns, so check your navigation apps before pulling out of Sea Breeze. Ensure you have your $22 fuel budget ready before you hit the road to avoid unnecessary stops. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay patient while navigating the turn-heavy sections, as the local road infrastructure requires more frequent adjustments than a standard highway drive.
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 69.1 miles from Sea Breeze, NC, or about 1h 7m 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 30 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.1 miles or 1h 7m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sea Breeze, 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 Sea Breeze, NC
This is one driving day of about 138.3 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Sea Breeze, 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 69.1 mi from Sea Breeze, NC · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Sea Breeze, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Raleigh, NC
The final approach into Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, 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
$21.63 one way
$43.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.65 | $47.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.60 | $51.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.53 | $61.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
| Efficient EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.10 | $5.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.3 | 0 | $19.36 | $8.85 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Evening in Raleigh on Wednesday
Local time
8:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Mount Olive, NC
69 mi in
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
18 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 15m 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 Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 138.3 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Carolina Beach Road, South College Road, Michael Jordan Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.1 miles from Sea Breeze, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.63 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 Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 15m 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 Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sea Breeze, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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