Origin
Swepsonville, NC
Late night in Swepsonville on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swepsonville, NC to Durham, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
29.9 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swepsonville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Swepsonville, NC to Durham, NC covers 29.9 miles and takes about 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 85, Durham Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 29.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 40m highway drive covering 29.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 85. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.4 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near I 40; I 85.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 29.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (I 40; I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 40; I 85
Merge onto I 40; I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck toward I 85 North: Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Durham
8
24 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke Univ...
7
29.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street
5
29.5 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Swepsonville, NC and Durham, NC, road signs point toward Duke University, Carolina Central University and Research Triangle Park.
Duke University
24 mi in
|
~31m
|
via NC 147
Carolina Central University
24 mi in
|
~31m
|
via NC 147
Research Triangle Park
24 mi in
|
~31m
|
via NC 147
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| I 85 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Durham Freeway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 119 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| East Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Roxboro Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Morehead Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ball Park Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 9.4 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swepsonville, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on Ball Park Road
90 ft
·
5 sec
·
Ball Park Road
2
Turn left onto Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on NC 119
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 119
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 40; I 85
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 40; I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; NC 86 Truck
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 85; NC 86 Truck
Toward I 85 North: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Durham Freeway
Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
512 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Morehead Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Morehead Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto East Main Street
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.68 one way
$9.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.11 | $10.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.53 | $11.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
40m 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 Swepsonville, NC to Durham, NC covers 29.9 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 85, Durham Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.9 miles from Swepsonville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.68 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 29.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (I 40; I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 85; NC 86 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Swepsonville, NC and Durham, NC, road signs point toward Duke University, Carolina Central University and Research Triangle Park.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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