Trip from Surf City, NC to Raleigh, NC

Drive Time

2h 42m

Distance

130 mi

209 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 32m ★

6 AM

2h 43m

8 AM

3h 4m

10 AM

2h 50m

12 PM

2h 48m

3 PM

2h 51m

5 PM

3h 3m

8 PM

2h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Raleigh, NC

Evgeniia Belman

Trip Overview

Transitioning from the coast to the capital is a straightforward 130-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 42 minutes to complete. Because this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day, you can easily plan it as a direct commute without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel, making it an affordable trek across the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes NC 24, NC 50, and Roland Avenue to navigate from the surf-side atmosphere of Surf City to the urban center of Raleigh. Whether you are heading inland for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable connection between the coast and the heart of North Carolina.

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

65 miles from Surf City, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 72% of this trip involves faster-paced driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on NC 24, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 59.8 miles. The road’s personality shifts from coastal local roads onto these primary highways, allowing for a steady flow of traffic once you clear the initial departure area. While you will encounter a mix of road types, the prevalence of highway driving keeps the pace consistent throughout the 130-mile span. You will find that the rhythm of the drive settles into a predictable pattern, helping you maintain focus as you head toward the Raleigh area.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

NC 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 59.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and NC 50. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NC 50; NC 210.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 130 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (NC 50; NC 210): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 55.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NC 50; NC 210

Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

55.2 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | NC 24

Take the exit onto NC 24

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

115 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

127.6 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Rock Quarry Rd North

129.9 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | South Wilmington Street

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
NC 24	59.8 mi	1h 4m
NC 50	19.5 mi	28m
Roland Avenue	16.7 mi	24m
I 40	12.6 mi	13m
Cypress Creek Road	9.4 mi	12m
South Kenansville Bypass	3.9 mi	5m
NC 41	1.9 mi	2m
Old Maple Hill Road North	1.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: NC 24 — 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surf City, NC and Raleigh, NC.

Start on Roland Avenue

58 ft · 2 sec · Roland Avenue

Turn right onto North New River Drive

256 ft · 6 sec · North New River Drive

Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210

14 ft · 0 sec · NC 50; NC 210

Continue on NC 50; NC 210

162 ft · 4 sec · NC 50; NC 210

Turn straight onto NC 50; NC 210

0.8 mi · 1 min · NC 50; NC 210

Enter roundabout onto NC 50; NC 210

110 ft · 2 sec · Roland Avenue

Continue on NC 50; NC 210

17 mi · 24 min · Roland Avenue

Continue on NC 50

5.1 mi · 7 min · NC 50

Turn right onto Old Maple Hill Road North

1.4 mi · 1 min · Old Maple Hill Road North

Continue on Sycamore Springs Road

1.4 mi · 1 min · Sycamore Springs Road

Turn right onto Cypress Creek Road

9.4 mi · 12 min · Cypress Creek Road

Continue on NC 50

3.0 mi · 4 min · NC 50

At end of road, turn left onto NC 41; NC 50

1.9 mi · 2 min · NC 41; NC 50

Turn right onto NC 50

11 mi · 14 min · NC 50

Turn left onto D S Williams Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · D S Williams Road

Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903

3.9 mi · 5 min · South Kenansville Bypass

Take the exit onto NC 24

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · NC 24

Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

13 mi · 13 min · I 40

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward Rock Quarry Rd North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Rock Quarry Road

Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Rock Quarry Road

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · South Wilmington Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto East South Street

24 ft · 0 sec · East South Street

Arrive at destination

East South Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a 2-hour and 42-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your day to avoid peak congestion. Plan for at least one stop along the way to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since you are covering 130 miles in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Surf City, as the $21 estimated cost can vary based on your vehicle's efficiency and current local prices. Because the longest stretch of 59.8 miles occurs on NC 24, use that portion of the drive to get comfortable with your speed and lane positioning. By keeping your departure time adaptable, you can make the transition between the coast and Raleigh as smooth as possible.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Surf City, NC, or about 1h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 65 miles or 1h 29m 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 14m

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 Surf City, 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 Surf City, NC

This is one driving day of about 130 miles and 2h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Surf City, 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 NC 24 for about 59.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65 mi from Surf City, NC · 1h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goldsboro, NC

65 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.

Popular next leg

Goldsboro, NC to Raleigh, NC

51.2 mi · 1h 8m

Pacing Suggestions

Goldsboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Goldsboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65 miles from Surf City, 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

$20.81 one way

$41.61 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$22.67	$45.34
premium	$4.78	$24.45	$48.91
diesel	$5.64	$28.88	$57.76

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: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	39	$13.65	$6.24
Efficient EV	32.5	$11.38	$5.20
EV Truck/SUV	52	$18.20	$8.32

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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

Surf City, NC

Evening in Surf City on Sunday

Local time

7:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raleigh, NC

Evening in Raleigh on Sunday

Local time

7:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°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

3 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

2h 42m 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 Surf City, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are NC 24, NC 50, Roland Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 65 miles from Surf City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.81 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.