Trip from Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC

Drive Time

3h 5m

Distance

176.9 mi

285 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 54m ★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Union and Mecklenburg counties, North Carolina, United States

Stallings, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Chapel Hill, NC, NC

Chapel Hill, NC

Niki Clark

Trip Overview

The drive from Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC covers 176.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Stallings Road, Stallings Commerce Drive, US 74 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.31 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

88.4 miles from Stallings, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 5m drive with frequent turns across 176.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Stallings 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 Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Stallings Road Unavailable Refreshing
Stallings Commerce Drive Unavailable Refreshing
US 74 West Unavailable Refreshing
Independence Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
East Independence Expressway Unavailable Refreshing
East Independence Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
John Belk Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
NC 27 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Stallings Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stallings, NC and Chapel Hill, NC.

1

Start on Stallings Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Stallings Road
2

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Stallings Road

164 ft · 3 sec · Stallings Road
3

Exit the roundabout onto Stallings Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Stallings Road
4

Turn left onto Stallings Commerce Drive

387 ft · 10 sec · Stallings Commerce Drive
5

Take the ramp straight toward US 74 West: Charlotte

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 74 West: Charlotte
6

Merge slight left onto Independence Boulevard

6.5 mi · 9 min · Independence Boulevard
7

Continue on East Independence Expressway

5.4 mi · 6 min · East Independence Expressway
8

Continue on East Independence Boulevard

0.7 mi · 45 sec · East Independence Boulevard
9

Merge slight left onto John Belk Freeway

2.3 mi · 3 min · John Belk Freeway
10

Take the exit straight toward NC 27: Freedom Drive

2.5 mi · 4 min · NC 27: Freedom Drive
11

Take the ramp slight left

0.3 mi · 41 sec
12

Merge slight left

24 mi · 29 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby

0.6 mi · 50 sec · US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
14

Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

7.6 mi · 8 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
15

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
16

Continue on East Dixon Boulevard

12 mi · 17 min · East Dixon Boulevard
17

Take the ramp straight toward West Dixon Boulevard

16 mi · 17 min · West Dixon Boulevard
18

Continue on Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway

18 mi · 19 min · Lieutenant Governor Walter H Dalton Highway
19

Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway

38 mi · 45 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
20

Take the exit slight right toward Westgate

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Westgate
21

Turn straight onto Patton Avenue

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Patton Avenue
22

Take the ramp straight toward Westgate

157 ft · 3 sec · Westgate
23

Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Billy Graham Freeway
24

Take the exit slight left toward I 26 West, US 19 North, US 23 North, US 70 West: Weaverville, Mars Hill

8.4 mi · 10 min · I 26 West, US 19 North, US 23 North, US 70 West: Weaverville, Mars Hill
25

Take the exit slight right toward US 25 North, US 70 West: Marshall

21 mi · 33 min · US 25 North, US 70 West: Marshall
26

Continue straight

3.5 mi · 5 min
27

Turn right onto Guntertown Road

2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road
28

Continue on Chapel Hill Road

1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road
29

Turn left

26 ft · 2 sec
30

Arrive at your destination

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 88.4 miles from Stallings, NC, or about 1h 32m 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 88.4 miles or 1h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chapel Hill, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Stallings, 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 Stallings, NC

This is one driving day of about 176.9 miles and 3h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Stallings, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 88.4 mi from Stallings, NC · 1h 32m into the drive

Downtown Barker Heights, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Barker Heights, NC

88 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

Inman Mills, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Barker Heights, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.4 miles from Stallings, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chapel Hill, NC

The final approach into Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, 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

$28.31 one way

$56.62 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $30.85 $61.69
premium $4.78 $33.28 $66.55
diesel $5.64 $39.30 $78.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.1 0 $18.57 $8.49
Efficient EV 44.2 0 $15.48 $7.08
EV Truck/SUV 70.8 0 $24.77 $11.32

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Stallings, NC

Afternoon in Stallings on Monday

Local time

3:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chapel Hill, NC

Afternoon in Chapel Hill on Monday

Local time

3:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°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

8 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

3h 5m 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 Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC covers 176.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Stallings Road, Stallings Commerce Drive, US 74 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.4 miles from Stallings, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.31 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Stallings, NC to Chapel Hill, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Chapel Hill, NC to Stallings, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

178 mi 3h 50m

Explore more options from Stallings, NC or browse trips ending in Chapel Hill, NC.

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