Origin
Apex, NC
Late night in Apex on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apex, NC to Goldsboro, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Goldsboro, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Apex to Goldsboro, you can expect a manageable 60.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since both towns are located within the Southeast region of North Carolina, the transition between them is relatively seamless. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over complexity, making it an ideal choice if you need to travel between these two points without any unnecessary detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Triangle Expressway | 16.4 mi | 17m |
| US 70 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| US 70 BYP | 14.3 mi | 19m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| East Williams Street | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| North George Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Salem Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Ash Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Triangle Expressway
— 16.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Goldsboro, NC.
1
Start on North Salem Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Salem Street
2
Turn left onto NC 55
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
East Williams Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll East
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Triangle Expressway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 42 East: Smithfield
7
Merge onto I 42
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
8
Continue on US 70
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 70 BYP
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 70
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto US 70
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 70
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 70
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 70 Business
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
North George Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Ash Street
15
Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business
164 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Ash Street
16
Continue on US 70 Business; US 117 Business
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Ash Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 70 Business; US 117 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Apex, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 60.1 — 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
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward NC 540 Toll East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll East
6
37.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 70 BYP
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 70 Business / North George Street
Turn right onto US 70 Business / North George Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 70 Business; US 117 Business / East Ash Street
Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business / East Ash Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.43 one way
$18.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.16 | $22.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Goldsboro, NC
Late night in Goldsboro on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
25 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
1h 19m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate your way out of Apex using East Williams Street before transitioning onto the Triangle Expressway and NC 540. Because the longest stretch on East Williams Street is negligible, you should prepare for a route that requires your full attention on local road changes rather than cruising on long, straightaways. The personality of this drive is defined by its localized nature, reflecting the practical layout of the regional road network. You will spend your time navigating through the area’s infrastructure, so stay alert for frequent turns as you make your way toward Goldsboro.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on Triangle Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Triangle Expressway and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NC 55 / East Williams Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 miles (US 70 BYP): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Apex, NC
Full guide →Apex, the "Peak City", is a town near Raleigh in the state of North Carolina.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 miles on Triangle Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Goldsboro, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NC 55 / East Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.6 miles (US 70 BYP): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Goldsboro, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Goldsboro, NC
More trips to Goldsboro, NC
Explore more options from Apex, NC or browse trips ending in Goldsboro, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.