Origin
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, NC to Morrisville, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
47.1 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Morrisville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.1-mile drive from Burlington, NC, to Morrisville, NC, is a straightforward 58-minute trip perfect for a single day. Primarily utilizing I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway, this route offers a direct connection between two points within North Carolina's Southeast region. With a projected fuel cost of around $7, it's an economical option for a quick journey. You won't need to worry about overnight stays; this drive is designed for efficiency. Expect a highway-focused experience that gets you to your destination without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 25.2 mi | 29m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| West Webb Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Harden Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Harden Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 25.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Morrisville, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn right onto NC 87; NC 100
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Continue on NC 87
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Elm Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Harden Street
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto NC 54
78 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
6
Continue on NC 54
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge onto I 40; I 85
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 284A
Toward Airport Boulevard West
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
294 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Airport Boulevard West
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Airport Boulevard
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn left onto NC 54
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Chapel Hill Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right
16 ft
·
0 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Burlington, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Turn left onto NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
7
43.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Airport Boulevard West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 284A
Toward Airport Boulevard West
8
44.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Airport Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Airport Boulevard West
6
45.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
At end of road, turn left onto NC 54 / Chapel Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.37 one way
$14.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.05 | $16.11 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.72 | $17.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (63% 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
Morrisville, NC
Late night in Morrisville on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Hillsborough, NC
24 mi in
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
19 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
58m 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?
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the journey taking place on major roads like I-40. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.2 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace. While West Webb Avenue provides a brief transition, the bulk of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B efficiently, rather than showcasing winding backroads or varied scenery.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 47.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Morrisville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Airport Boulevard West along the way.
Airport Boulevard West
43.9 mi in
|
~52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 47.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on I 40. 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 Morrisville, 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 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morrisville, 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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