Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
18.9 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cary, NC
C k
If you are planning a quick excursion between Cary and Durham, you will find this 18.9-mile trip to be a straightforward connection within the Southeast region. The drive typically takes about 25 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $3 on fuel for the journey, keeping your travel costs very low. Because the route is short and direct, it offers significant flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short visit, this route provides a reliable and efficient transition between the two cities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dan K. Moore Frwy | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| North Harrison Avenue | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| South Roxboro Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chapel Hill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jackie Robinson Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Academy Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cary, NC and Durham, NC.
Start on North Academy Street
Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road
Turn right onto SR 1652
Take the ramp
Merge 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
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 18.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Turn left onto East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.96 one way
$5.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.23 | $6.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.50 | $7.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.17 | $8.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Cary on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions from local roads to faster highway segments. You will spend roughly 36% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing the Dan K. Moore Freeway and the Durham Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 7.2-mile section along the Dan K. Moore Freeway, providing a brief period of consistent speed. As you navigate North Harrison Avenue, the route shifts from suburban arterial roads into the more structured freeway corridors. Overall, the drive feels like a functional blend of local maneuvering and efficient interstate travel.
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 10.9 miles in.
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 18.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 25m. Total distance: 18.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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