Origin
Southern Shores, NC
Morning in Southern Shores on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southern Shores, NC to West Raleigh, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
210.7 mi
339 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 14m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 37m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 53m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southern Shores, NC
Scott Platt
West Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Trip Overview
The drive from Southern Shores, NC to West Raleigh, NC covers 210.7 miles and takes about 4h 27m 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 $32.95 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
105.3 miles from Southern Shores, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 4h 27m highway drive covering 210.7 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 23 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. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near NC 12 / Duck Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 210.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (NC 12 / Duck Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.3 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 12 / Duck Road
Turn left onto NC 12 / Duck Road
Navigation decision point
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.
8
204 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward I-440 West, To US 1, US 64 Business East: Wake Forest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward I-440 West, To US 1, US 64 Business East...
5
204.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m in
|
I 440
Merge onto I 440
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
205.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, New Bern Ave
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Downtown, New Bern Ave
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 64 | 67.3 mi | 1h 27m |
| US 13 | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| US 64 Bypass | 38.1 mi | 40m |
| Washington Baum Bridge | 20.7 mi | 27m |
| North Croatan Highway | 14.9 mi | 24m |
| New Bern Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Ocean Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Duck Road | 1.5 mi | 4m |
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 West Raleigh, 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
38 mi
·
40 min
·
US 64 Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 3
Toward I-440 West, To US 1, US 64 Business East: Wake Forest
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 440
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Downtown, New Bern Ave
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 64 Business
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
New Bern Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on East Edenton Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Edenton Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Continue on Hillsborough Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillsborough Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
19
Continue on Hillsborough Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillsborough Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
84 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
21
Continue on Hillsborough Street
503 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
22
Turn right onto Enterprise Street
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
Enterprise Street
23
Arrive at destination
Enterprise 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 105.3 miles from Southern Shores, NC, or about 2h 26m 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 26m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Raleigh, 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 210.7 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 105.3 mi from Southern Shores, NC · 2h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.3 miles from Southern Shores, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.
Arriving in West Raleigh, NC
The final approach into West 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 West 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
$32.95 one way
$65.90 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $36.03 | $72.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $39.00 | $77.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.52 | $93.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.12 | $10.11 |
| Efficient EV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.3 | 1 | $29.50 | $13.48 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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
West Raleigh, NC
Morning in West Raleigh on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
7 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 27m 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 West Raleigh, NC covers 210.7 miles and takes about 4h 27m 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 105.3 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 $32.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 210.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (NC 12 / Duck Road): Navigation decision point; at 40.3 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 204 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Southern Shores, NC to West Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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