This 142.2-mile journey from Burlington to Winterville, North Carolina, is a straightforward, single-day trip taking approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, it's an economical drive. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating through towns and along smaller streets for the majority of the trip. This makes it a flexible option for a day trip, allowing for an early start or a leisurely pace. You'll be staying within the Southeast region for the entire drive.
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
71.1 miles from Burlington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 264
52.3 mi
57m
I 40
30.3 mi
34m
I 87
16.8 mi
17m
Sam Hunt Freeway
14.3 mi
16m
I 440
9.2 mi
11m
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi
3m
Pocosin Road
2.9 mi
3m
Moye-Turnage Road
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 264
— 52.3 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Winterville, 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
30 mi·34 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: RaleighUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi·3 min·Wade Avenue
Exit 289Toward Wade AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
12
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi·11 min·I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi·17 min·I 87; US 64; US 264
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 264
49 mi·52 min·US 264
16
Take the exit onto US 258
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 258
Exit 48
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 258
0.9 mi·1 min·US 258
18
Turn left onto Moye-Turnage Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Moye-Turnage Road
19
Turn left onto US 264
3.6 mi·5 min·US 264
20
Turn right onto Speight Seed Farm Road
1.9 mi·2 min·Speight Seed Farm Road
21
Turn left onto Pocosin Road
2.9 mi·3 min·Pocosin Road
22
Turn left onto NC 903
1.2 mi·1 min·NC 903
23
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi·58 sec·West Main Street
24
Turn left onto South Church Street
356 ft·12 sec·South Church Street
25
Arrive at destination
South Church Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 46 minute duration and the local road nature of this 142.2-mile route, an early morning departure is recommended to avoid potential local traffic. While the fuel cost is only around $23, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially since the drive is characterized by frequent turns. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between West Webb Avenue, West Elm Street, and West Harden Street, as the many turns can make it easy to miss a crucial direction. This drive is well-suited for a single day, offering flexibility to depart and arrive at your convenience.
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 71.1 miles from Burlington, NC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 24m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winterville, 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 142.2 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 US 264 for about 52.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 61.7 — 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.
5
3.2 mi into trip|~4m in|NC 54 / East Harden Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 54 / East Harden Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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
8
48.9 mi into trip|~58m in|SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
61.7 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.24 one way
$44.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.31
$48.63
premium
$4.70
$26.32
$52.64
diesel
$5.61
$31.40
$62.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.93
$6.83
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.44
$5.69
EV Truck/SUV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Burlington, NC
Late night
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winterville, NC
Late night
in Winterville on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a connected local road experience on this route, rather than a high-speed highway cruise. With no highway driving, you'll be on roads like West Webb Avenue, West Elm Street, and West Harden Street for the duration. The 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent intersections and adjustments as you move through various communities. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, implying a continuous series of turns and transitions, keeping your attention focused on navigation and the changing local scenery.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.3 mi on US 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 264 and I 40. 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 Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 142.2 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 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Burlington, NC and Winterville, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
Wilson
61.7 mi in|~1h 14m
Greenville
61.7 mi in|~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 142.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.3 miles on US 264. 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 Winterville, 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 2.4 miles (NC 49; NC 54; NC 87 / West Harden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (NC 54 / East Harden Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winterville, NC before heading back.
