If you are looking to travel from Apex to Albemarle, you are in for a 97.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 11 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the one-way trek across this portion of North Carolina. Since the route remains entirely within the Southeast region, the landscape stays familiar as you transition between these two towns. It is a straightforward, practical drive that provides a simple connection between the two points without requiring excessive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McReynolds Street
42.2 mi
59m
Jefferson Davis Highway
17.1 mi
20m
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
15.7 mi
16m
White Hill Road
10.7 mi
14m
Albemarle Road
5.7 mi
7m
NC 24
1.7 mi
3m
Monroe Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Williams Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
McReynolds Street
— 42.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Albemarle, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Salem Street
2
Turn left onto NC 55
1.2 mi·2 min·East Williams Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 1 South: SanfordUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 1
16 mi·16 min·Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 1
17 mi·20 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto US 15; US 501
11 mi·14 min·White Hill Road
7
Continue on NC 24; NC 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Monroe Street
8
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
336 ft·6 sec·McReynolds Street
9
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
42 mi·59 min·McReynolds Street
10
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
5.4 mi·6 min·Albemarle Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
114 ft·1 sec·Albemarle Road
12
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
0.3 mi·36 sec·Albemarle Road
13
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
1.7 mi·3 min·NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
15
Turn right onto US 52 Business
0.3 mi·27 sec·South 2nd Street
16
Continue on US 52 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
17
Turn left onto West Main Street
138 ft·5 sec·West Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic bottlenecks. You won't need to worry about scheduling formal stops, as the 2-hour and 11-minute duration is manageable for most drivers to complete in one go. Keep in mind that because you are relying on local roads rather than interstates, your pace will be dictated by the turns and traffic flow of the specific streets you are traveling. Budgeting $16 for fuel ensures you are covered for the full 97.1 miles, but it is always wise to keep a little extra set aside for local detours. Pay close attention to navigation while on McReynolds Street, as that will be your longest uninterrupted segment of the trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 miles.
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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albemarle, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Apex, 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 Apex, NC
This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Apex, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on McReynolds Street for about 42.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 96.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|NC 55 / East Williams Street
Turn left onto NC 55 / East Williams Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 1 South: Sanford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 1 South: Sanford
5
46.5 mi into trip|~59m in|NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
94.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
96.3 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 52 Business / South 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 52 Business / South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.18 one way
$30.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.60
$33.21
premium
$4.70
$17.97
$35.94
diesel
$5.61
$21.44
$42.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.1
0
$10.20
$4.66
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.88
EV Truck/SUV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Apex, NC
Night
in Apex on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
SE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 11 at 7:52PM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Albemarle, NC
Night
in Albemarle on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 11 at 7:52PM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
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
1 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 11m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only 2% of this route consists of high-speed highways. You will spend much of your time navigating local roads, including a significant 42.2-mile stretch along McReynolds Street. The transit also utilizes the Jefferson Davis Highway and the Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway to bridge the gap between your origin and destination. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these technical, winding segments rather than long, straight stretches of pavement.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on McReynolds Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NC 55 / East Williams Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The longest stretch is about 42.2 miles on McReynolds Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albemarle, NC before heading back.
