Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
60.6 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Henderson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Apex, NC to Henderson, NC is 60.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via I 85, Triangle Expressway, and Durham Freeway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive primarily stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a largely highway-focused experience that makes for a quick and efficient trip. It's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 35.6 mi | 38m |
| Triangle Expressway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Durham Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| East End Connector | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| West Williams Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Andrews Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| US 64 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Saunders Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and Henderson, NC.
Start on North Salem Street
Turn right onto Saunders Street
Turn right onto West Chatham Street
At end of road, turn left onto Hunter Street
Turn right onto NC 55
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 64
Take the exit
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
Take the exit
Continue on NC 885 Toll
Continue on I 885
Keep slight right at fork onto I 885
Take the exit
Merge onto I 85; US 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto NC 39
Turn left onto US 1 BUS; US 158 BUS
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 23.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto NC 55 / West Williams Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NC 540 Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NC 885 Toll North: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 885 / East End Connector toward I 885 North: Greensboro, Petersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 85 North, US 15 North: Henderson, Petersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.48 one way
$18.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 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 | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Apex on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Henderson on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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.
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 85% of the journey on high-speed roads like I 85 and the Triangle Expressway. You'll experience a 35.6-mile stretch on I 85, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your drive. The Durham Freeway also contributes to the highway-focused profile. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by smooth, uninterrupted travel on well-maintained expressways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Triangle Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near NC 55 / West Williams Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.8 miles (NC 55 / West Williams Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Apex, NC to Henderson, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Petersburg along the way.
Petersburg
Founded 1873
Apex, the "Peak City", is a town near Raleigh in the state of North Carolina.
Henderson is in North Carolina.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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