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Trip from Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

182.8 mi

294 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 37m ★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m

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

city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States of America

Washington, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC covers 182.8 miles and takes about 2h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pactolus Highway, Martin Luther King Junior Highway, I 587 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.59 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

91.4 miles from Washington, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 182.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 47m drive with frequent turns across 182.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pactolus Highway 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC is easy. At 2h 47m 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 Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pactolus Highway
Martin Luther King Junior Highway
I 587 West
John P East Memorial Highway
Rolesville Road
Marks Creek Road
Horton Road
Buffaloe Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Pactolus Highway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Washington, NC and Greensboro, NC.

1

Start on West 5th Street

3.6 mi · 6 min · West 5th Street
2

Continue on Pactolus Highway

14 mi · 18 min · Pactolus Highway
3

Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Highway

9.8 mi · 11 min · Martin Luther King Junior Highway
4

Take the exit slight right toward I 587 West: Wilson

0.4 mi · 56 sec · I 587 West: Wilson
5

Merge slight left onto John P East Memorial Highway

33 mi · 34 min · John P East Memorial Highway
6

Merge slight right

30 mi · 31 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward Rolesville Road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Rolesville Road
8

Keep slight right to continue on Rolesville Road

308 ft · 8 sec · Rolesville Road
9

Turn right onto Rolesville Road

2.4 mi · 4 min · Rolesville Road
10

Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Marks Creek Road
11

Turn right onto Horton Road

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Horton Road
12

Turn right onto Buffaloe Road

3.8 mi · 6 min · Buffaloe Road
13

Take the ramp right

0.4 mi · 24 sec
14

Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway

15 mi · 16 min · Northern Wake Expressway
15

Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 70 West: Durham
16

Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue

1.9 mi · 2 min · Glenwood Avenue
17

Continue on New Raleigh Highway

2.5 mi · 3 min · New Raleigh Highway
18

Continue on South Miami Boulevard

9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard
19

Keep slight left

42 mi · 48 min
20

Keep slight right

3.3 mi · 3 min
21

Take the exit slight right toward NC 6

0.2 mi · 25 sec · NC 6
22

Turn straight onto East Gate City Boulevard

3.4 mi · 7 min · East Gate City Boulevard
23

Turn right onto South Eugene Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Eugene Street
24

Turn right onto West Market Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · West Market Street
25

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 91.4 miles from Washington, NC, or about 1h 23m 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 40 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 91.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 17m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Washington, 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 Washington, NC

This is one driving day of about 182.8 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Washington, 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 91.4 mi from Washington, NC · 1h 23m into the drive

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raleigh, NC

91 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

Raleigh, NC to Greensboro, NC

77.3 mi · 1h 38m

Pacing Suggestions

City of Greenville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Raleigh, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from Washington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Greensboro, NC

The final approach into Greensboro, 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 Greensboro, 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

$28.59 one way

$57.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $31.26 $62.51
premium $4.70 $33.83 $67.66
diesel $5.61 $40.36 $80.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54.8 0 $19.19 $8.77
Efficient EV 45.7 0 $16.00 $7.31
EV Truck/SUV 73.1 0 $25.59 $11.70

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Washington, NC

Late night in Washington on Saturday

Local time

5:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Greensboro, NC

Late night in Greensboro on Saturday

Local time

5:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°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

14 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

2h 47m 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 Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC covers 182.8 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pactolus Highway, Martin Luther King Junior Highway, I 587 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 91.4 miles from Washington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.59 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.

The drive from Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC is easy. At 2h 47m 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 Washington, NC to Greensboro, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Washington, NC to Greensboro, 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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Explore more options from Washington, NC or browse trips ending in Greensboro, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.