The drive from Southern Shores, NC to Durham, NC covers 228.3 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 64, US 13, US 64 Bypass for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.3 miles on US 64.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.2 miles from Southern Shores, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 228.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 228.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 64 and US 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.3 miles on US 64.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 67.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and US 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.3 miles in near US 64.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 228.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 40.3 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 225.1 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
40.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
194 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
8
225.1 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
7
227.7 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
7
228 mi into trip|~4h 48m in|US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
67.3 mi
1h 27m
US 13
58.3 mi
1h 3m
US 64 Bypass
27.8 mi
29m
Washington Baum Bridge
20.7 mi
27m
Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi
16m
North Croatan Highway
14.9 mi
24m
Durham Freeway
5.1 mi
6m
T.W. Alexander Drive
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Shores, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on this road
256 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Continue on 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi·57 sec·3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto NC 12
1.5 mi·4 min·Duck Road
4
Continue on NC 12
1.5 mi·2 min·Ocean Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 158
15 mi·24 min·North Croatan Highway
6
Continue on US 64
1.4 mi·2 min·South Virginia Dare Trail
7
Continue on US 64
21 mi·27 min·Washington Baum Bridge
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
67 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto US 13; US 17
1.8 mi·2 min·US 13; US 17
10
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 13; US 64
11
Continue on US 64 Bypass
28 mi·29 min·US 64 Bypass
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
13
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft·7 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
14
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Rolesville Road
15
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Marks Creek Road
16
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi·43 sec·Horton Road
17
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
19
Merge onto I 540
15 mi·16 min·Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 70 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 70
0.9 mi·1 min·Glenwood Avenue
22
Turn left onto T.W. Alexander Drive
4.1 mi·5 min·T.W. Alexander Drive
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 885 North: DurhamUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 885
2.5 mi·2 min·Durham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
2.6 mi·3 min·Durham Freeway
Exit 9Toward NC 147 North: Durham DowntownUse the slight left lane.
26
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi·19 sec·Jackie Robinson Drive
28
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.3 mi·48 sec·South Roxboro Street
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left onto East Main Street
100 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 114.2 miles from Southern Shores, NC, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 miles.
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 50 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.2 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durham, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southern Shores, 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 Southern Shores, NC
This is one driving day of about 228.3 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Southern Shores, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 67.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.2 mi from Southern Shores, NC
· 2h 36m into the drive
The midpoint is around 114.2 miles from Southern Shores, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.
Arriving in Durham, NC
The final approach into Durham, 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 Durham, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
National Memorial
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane fli...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.70 one way
$71.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$39.04
$78.07
premium
$4.70
$42.25
$84.51
diesel
$5.61
$50.41
$100.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.5
0
$23.97
$10.96
Efficient EV
57.1
0
$19.98
$9.13
EV Truck/SUV
91.3
1
$31.96
$14.61
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Southern Shores, NC
Afternoon
in Southern Shores on Friday
Local time
2:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Durham, NC
Afternoon
in Durham on Friday
Local time
2:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Plymouth, NC
114 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
5 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
4h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Southern Shores, NC to Durham, NC covers 228.3 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 64, US 13, US 64 Bypass. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.2 miles from Southern Shores, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 228.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.3 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 225.1 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Southern Shores, NC to Durham, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Wright Brothers National Memorial.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
