Origin
Southern Pines, NC
Evening in Southern Pines on Thursday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southern Pines, NC to Apex, NC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
55.6 mi
90 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 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Pines, NC
Alex Borelli
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Southern Pines, NC to Apex, NC covers 55.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 1, North Sandhills Boulevard, East Williams Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.8 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 55.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 55.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 1 and North Sandhills Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.8 miles on US 1.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and North Sandhills Boulevard. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles (US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard
Merge onto US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward NC 55: Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward NC 55: Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varin...
6
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
South Hughes Street
Turn right onto South Hughes Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
55.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
North Salem Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 38.8 mi | 44m |
| North Sandhills Boulevard | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| East Williams Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Hughes Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Salem Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 38.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Pines, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on West Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
3
Merge onto US 1
14 mi
·
17 min
·
North Sandhills Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge onto US 1
39 mi
·
44 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 95
Toward NC 55: Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina
7
Turn left onto NC 55
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Williams Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto South Hughes Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hughes Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto SR 1010
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Center Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Salem Street
Use the right lane.
11
Arrive at destination
North Salem Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.8 mi from Southern Pines, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Southern Pines, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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
$8.69 one way
$17.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.51 | $19.01 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.29 | $20.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Apex, NC
Evening in Apex on Thursday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Sanford, NC
28 mi in
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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m 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 Southern Pines, NC to Apex, NC covers 55.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, North Sandhills Boulevard, East Williams Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.8 miles from Southern Pines, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.69 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 55.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles (US 1 / North Sandhills Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Southern Pines, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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