Origin
Beulaville, NC
Late night in Beulaville on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
117.1 mi
188 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beulaville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Beulaville, NC to Durham, NC is 117.1 miles and takes about 2h 15m via NC 24 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region, and is primarily a highway-focused drive. You'll be covering a good portion of the distance on main roads like NC 24 and I 40. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward path, this makes for a convenient same-day journey. Plan for a smooth transition as you head towards your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.6 miles from Beulaville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 24 | 59.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 40 | 33.5 mi | 38m |
| West Main Street | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| South Kenansville Bypass | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| South Roxboro Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jackie Robinson Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Beulaville, NC and Durham, NC.
Start on NC 24
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
Take the exit onto NC 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Take the exit
Merge onto I 885
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
Take the exit
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
Turn left onto East Main Street
Arrive at destination
With a drive time of just over two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive before lunchtime, or leave in the afternoon and still have plenty of daylight. There are no specific stops suggested, so you can tailor your journey based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Durham, as the estimated $18 cost is for the entire 117.1-mile trip. A good tip is to fill up before you leave Beulaville to ensure you have a full tank for the longest stretch on NC 24.
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.
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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 8m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durham, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Beulaville, 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 Beulaville, NC
This is one driving day of about 117.1 miles and 2h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 58.6 miles from Beulaville, 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 15.9 and 116.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$18.31 one way
$36.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.02 | $40.04 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.67 | $43.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.85 | $51.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.30 | $5.62 |
| Efficient EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 Beulaville on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
This drive has an 85% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.8 miles, primarily on NC 24. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the trip, with transitions onto I 40 and then West Main Street as you approach Durham. The character is largely one of consistent travel rather than winding scenic byways. You’ll likely find the pace steady and efficient for most of the drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near NC 24.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 117.1 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 15.9 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Of the three cities that make up North Carolina's Research Triangle, Durham has traditionally been the one with the grittier, more working-class image. A city of just over 300,000 residents in 2026, Durham has moved beyond a "tobacco town" with a prestigious university at its center to become a regionally and nationally recognized symbol of urban renewal, gentrification, technology and diversity. Durham's vibrant African-American community was historically pioneering in United States Black culture, from the arts to finance. These days, the tobacco warehouses and textile mills have been converted to other uses, as Durham has taken on a much more high-profile (and expensive) identity. Thanks to local anchor Duke University, a thriving, research-driven medical and tech industry has taken root.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 117.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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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