Origin
West Raleigh, NC
Afternoon in West Raleigh on Saturday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Raleigh, NC to Sunset Beach, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
179.5 mi
289 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Sunset Beach, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Raleigh, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 179.5 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hillsborough Street, Pullen Road, Western Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.07 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
89.7 miles from West Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Street | — | — |
| Pullen Road | — | — |
| Western Boulevard | — | — |
| South Dawson Street | — | — |
| South Saunders Street | — | — |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | — | — |
| SR 42 | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Hillsborough Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Raleigh, NC and Sunset Beach, NC.
1
Start on Enterprise Street
43 ft
·
3 sec
·
Enterprise Street
2
Turn left onto Hillsborough Street
400 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
3
Turn slight right
105 ft
·
6 sec
4
Turn right onto Pullen Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Pullen Road
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Pullen Road
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pullen Road
6
Exit the roundabout onto Pullen Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Pullen Road
7
Turn left onto Western Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Boulevard
8
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
9
Turn straight onto South Dawson Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Dawson Street
10
Continue on South Saunders Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Saunders Street
11
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
12
Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
14
Keep slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
15
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
16
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
17
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
19
Merge slight left onto John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
21
Merge slight left onto Ocean Highway East
32 mi
·
41 min
·
Ocean Highway East
22
Turn left onto Seaside Road Southwest
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Seaside Road Southwest
23
Turn right onto Sunset Boulevard North
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Sunset Boulevard North
24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Sunset Boulevard South
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard South
25
Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard South
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.7 miles from West Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 44m 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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.7 miles or 1h 44m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunset Beach, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Raleigh, 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 West Raleigh, NC
This is one driving day of about 179.5 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from West Raleigh, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.7 miles from West Raleigh, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.07 one way
$56.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.69 | $61.38 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.22 | $66.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.63 | $79.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 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 | 53.9 | 0 | $18.85 | $8.62 |
| Efficient EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.71 | $7.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.13 | $11.49 |
Gas CO2
63 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.
Destination
Sunset Beach, NC
Afternoon in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
5 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
3h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
179.5 mi in 3h 29m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Hillsborough Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 West Raleigh, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is easy. At 3h 29m 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 West Raleigh, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 179.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Raleigh, NC to Sunset Beach, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Sunset Beach, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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