Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
72.8 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tarboro, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Tarboro, NC to Raleigh, NC covers 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 64, I 87, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.9 miles on US 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 24m highway drive covering 72.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 64 and I 87. The longest continuous stretch is about 65.9 miles on US 64.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 87. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 64 | 65.9 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 87 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Saint James Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Western Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Wilmington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tarboro, NC and Raleigh, NC.
Start on Trade Street
Turn left onto West Saint James Street
Turn left onto US 64 ALT; NC 111; NC 122
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 64
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
Merge onto I 40; US 64
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.4 mi from Tarboro, NC · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Tarboro, 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 65.9 miles.
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.
Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: 07:00-19:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop;ice_cream;breakfast;sandwich
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-16:30
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: coffee;tea;breakfast;lunch;pastry
Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-14:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, short detour
Raleigh, NC
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, short detour
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: american;coffee_shop;grill
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: american
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-23:00;Sa-Su 07:00-23:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Hours: Su 11:00-15:00; Tu-Th 11:00-14:00, 16:00...
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: italian
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: japanese
Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-14:00,17:00-22:00;Fr 11:00-1...
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Raleigh, NC
Cuisine: mexican
Visit websitePark
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, short detour
Attraction
Near the end, short detour
Raleigh, NC
Visit websitePark
Early in the drive, short detour
Rocky Mount, NC
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Artwork
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Yes
Near the start, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Early in the drive, right off the route
Artwork
Near the end, short detour
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, short detour
Motel
Near the end, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.47 | $26.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Tarboro on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Raleigh on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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