Origin
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
4:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, NC to Elizabeth City, 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 55m
Distance
149.6 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth City, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Burlington, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is 149.6 miles and takes about 2h 55m via I 85, Sam Hunt Freeway, and I 40, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within North Carolina, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it an ideal choice if you're looking for efficiency. Expect a smooth ride with minimal detours, perfect for a quick trip or an addition to a larger journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.8 miles from Burlington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 108 mi | 2h 2m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| US 29 | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Dixon Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Marion Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 108 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Elizabeth City, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn left onto NC 87; NC 100
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 70; NC 62
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Fisher Street
4
Turn straight onto US 70; NC 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto NC 62
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
7
Merge onto I 40; I 85
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
108 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 74
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 74
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
14
Continue on US 74
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Dixon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto US 74 BUS
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Marion Street
16
Continue on NC 180
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Post Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Crystal Lane
424 ft
·
18 sec
·
Crystal Lane
18
Arrive at destination
Crystal Lane
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 108-mile stretch on I 85, as services might be less frequent than on other parts of the route. Planning to refuel before this segment is a smart move.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.8 miles from Burlington, NC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 28m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth City, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, 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 Burlington, NC
This is one driving day of about 149.6 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Burlington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 108 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.8 miles from Burlington, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 135.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
6
27.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
135.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.39 one way
$46.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $25.58 | $51.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $27.69 | $55.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.03 | $66.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.71 | $7.18 |
| Efficient EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.94 | $9.57 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Elizabeth City, NC
Late night in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
4:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
50°F
Concord, NC
75 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
31 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 85, including a continuous stretch of 108 miles. The route is designed for speed and direct travel, meaning you won't encounter many winding backroads or slow-downs. The character remains consistent, offering a predictable and efficient driving experience from start to finish.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 149.6 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 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Burlington, NC to Elizabeth City, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Shelby along the way.
Shelby
135.8 mi in
|
~2h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 149.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108 miles on I 85. 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 Elizabeth City, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabeth City, 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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