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 New Bern, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
122.5 mi
197 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
New Bern, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Apex, NC to New Bern, NC is 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m via East New Bern Road and US 70, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly on main roads, making it a straightforward journey. Given the relatively short duration, it's ideal for a same-day trip without feeling rushed. You'll find the route offers a practical way to get from point A to point B within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Apex, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East New Bern Road | 32.4 mi | 35m |
| US 70 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| Goldsboro Bypass | 19.8 mi | 21m |
| Triangle Expressway | 16.4 mi | 17m |
| US 70 BYP | 14.3 mi | 19m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| East Williams Street | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West New Bern Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
East New Bern Road
— 32.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apex, NC and New Bern, 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
Continue on I 42
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Goldsboro Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 70
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto US 70; US 258
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West New Bern Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on US 70; NC 58
32 mi
·
35 min
·
East New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
16
Turn left onto Country Club Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Country Club Road
17
Continue on NC 55
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
1st Street
18
Turn right onto Queen Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Queen Street
19
Turn slight right onto Pollock Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Pollock Street
20
Turn left onto Metcalf Street
490 ft
·
21 sec
·
Metcalf Street
21
Turn left onto Broad Street
397 ft
·
20 sec
·
Broad Street
22
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
For this 122.5-mile drive, leaving Apex, NC in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach New Bern, NC well before evening. With a duration of just over two hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but East New Bern Road's longest stretch of 32.4 miles is a good point to consider a brief break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $19, and plan your refueling before you depart or when you hit the US 70 section, which is a primary artery for this 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 61.3 miles from Apex, NC, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.4 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 16m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bern, 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 122.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Apex, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East New Bern Road for about 32.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 121.1 — 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
5
20.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 42 East: Smithfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 42 East: Smithfield
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.
5
121.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
Country Club Road
Turn left onto Country Club Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.16 one way
$38.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.95 | $41.89 |
| premium | $4.70 | $22.67 | $45.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.05 | $54.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.86 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.15 | $7.84 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
New Bern, NC
Late night in New Bern on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Pine Level, NC
61 mi in
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 27m 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?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 42% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches like East New Bern Road, which can run for up to 32.4 miles without a significant break. The route incorporates the Goldsboro Bypass, suggesting periods of faster travel alongside more local road segments. Overall, the drive progresses through varied road types, avoiding being a monotonous highway grind while still offering efficient travel.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on East New Bern Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 122.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 2h 27m. Total distance: 122.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.4 miles on East New Bern Road. 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 New Bern, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Bern, 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.
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