Origin
Swepsonville, NC
Late night in Swepsonville on Saturday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swepsonville, NC to Raleigh, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swepsonville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Swepsonville, NC to Raleigh, NC is 53.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m via I 40 and State Highway 119, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Primarily a highway-focused journey, it's a practical option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours. Expect a quick transit that should easily fit into a single day of travel.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 39.7 miles on I 40, offering a consistent pace. The drive begins on State Highway 119 before merging onto I 40, which will be your main artery for a significant portion of the trip. Finally, Wade Avenue will bring you into Raleigh. Expect a straightforward transit with minimal local road complications.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 39.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 119. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 40; I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road
Turn left onto Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road
Navigation decision point
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 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
45 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
5
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 39.7 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 119 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Western Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| East Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Gorman Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Faircloth Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 39.7 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swepsonville, NC and Raleigh, 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 right at fork onto I 40
30 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Wade Avenue
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Faircloth Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Faircloth Street
10
Continue on Gorman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gorman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Western Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
13
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
14
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
15
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.6 mi from Swepsonville, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Swepsonville, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.32 one way
$16.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.85 | $19.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Raleigh, NC
Late night in Raleigh on Saturday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
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
1h 10m 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 Raleigh, NC covers 53.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 119, Wade 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 26.6 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 $8.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 40; I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Swepsonville, NC to Raleigh, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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