Origin
Silver Lake, NC
Night in Silver Lake on Wednesday
Local time
11:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
132.8 mi
214 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver Lake, NC
Michael Ken
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Silver Lake to Raleigh covers 132.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Because this is a straightforward journey, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly way to move between these two Southeast locations. You will navigate primarily via local roads rather than major interstates. It is a practical route for those who prefer a consistent pace over long-distance highway cruising.
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
66.4 miles from Silver Lake, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning your highway share is 0%. You will traverse Cornus Drive, Carya Drive, and Ilex Drive as your primary navigation points. Because the longest stretch on any single road is 0 miles on Cornus Drive, the route requires frequent attention to your turns and navigation. It offers a hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from the typical high-speed highway commute.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cornus Drive 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 Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 10m 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 Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cornus Drive | — | — |
| Carya Drive | — | — |
| Ilex Drive | — | — |
| Silver Terra Drive | — | — |
| Carolina Beach Road | — | — |
| Saint Andrews Drive | — | — |
| South 17th Street | — | — |
| South College Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Cornus Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Lake, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on Yulan Drive
33 ft
·
7 sec
·
Yulan Drive
2
Turn left onto Cornus Drive
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Cornus Drive
3
Turn left onto Carya Drive
440 ft
·
21 sec
·
Carya Drive
4
Turn right onto Ilex Drive
512 ft
·
28 sec
·
Ilex Drive
5
Turn left onto Silver Terra Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Silver Terra Drive
6
Turn left onto Carolina Beach Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Carolina Beach Road
7
Turn right onto Saint Andrews Drive
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Saint Andrews Drive
8
Turn right onto South 17th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 17th Street
9
Turn left onto South College Road
6.9 mi
·
11 min
·
South College Road
10
Continue on Michael Jordan Highway
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Michael Jordan Highway
11
Keep slight left
14 mi
·
15 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward Person St, Hammond Rd
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Person St, Hammond Rd
13
Keep slight right
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
14
Turn straight onto Hammond Road
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Hammond Road
15
Continue on South Person Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Person Street
16
Turn left onto East South Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East South Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this 132.8-mile trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. With zero planned stops listed, you can drive straight through, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure you stay within your $21 budget. Given the nature of this turn-heavy local route, double-check your GPS settings before you head out to ensure you stay on the correct sequence of Cornus, Carya, and Ilex drives. Avoiding peak traffic hours on these local roads will help keep your travel time closer to the 2-hour and 10-minute estimate.
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 66.4 miles from Silver Lake, NC, or about 1h 5m 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 29 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
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 Silver Lake, 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 Silver Lake, NC
This is one driving day of about 132.8 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Silver Lake, 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 66.4 mi from Silver Lake, NC · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.4 miles from Silver Lake, 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
$20.77 one way
$41.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $22.71 | $45.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $24.58 | $49.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.32 | $58.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| Efficient EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.59 | $8.50 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Raleigh, NC
Night in Raleigh on Wednesday
Local time
11:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Mount Olive, NC
66 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
3 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 10m 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 Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 132.8 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cornus Drive, Carya Drive, Ilex Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.4 miles from Silver Lake, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.77 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 Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC is easy. At 2h 10m 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 Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Silver Lake, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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