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Trip from Chapel Hill, NC to Clayton, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 11m

Distance

301.9 mi

486 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 59m ★
6 AM
6h 12m
8 AM
6h 37m
10 AM
6h 21m
12 PM
6h 18m
3 PM
6h 22m
5 PM
6h 36m
8 PM
6h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Chapel Hill, NC

Wikimedia Commons

town in North Carolina

Clayton, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 301.9-mile journey from Chapel Hill, NC to Clayton, NC is designed for a single day of travel, estimated to take about 6 hours and 11 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more intimate and turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $48. Given the duration and road type, it’s a manageable day trip, though you might appreciate a brief stop along the way. Both destinations are situated within the Southeast region, keeping the regional context consistent throughout your drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

150.9 miles from Chapel Hill, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chapel Hill Road — —
Guntertown Road — —
Billy Graham Freeway — —
I 40 East — —
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway — —
US 70 — —
US 70 East — —
Goldsboro Highway — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Chapel Hill Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, NC and Clayton, NC.

1

Start on the route

26 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road
3

Continue on Guntertown Road

2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road
4

At the end of the road, turn left

3.5 mi · 5 min
5

Continue straight

21 mi · 32 min
6

Take the exit slight right

3.9 mi · 5 min
7

Continue straight

4.2 mi · 5 min
8

Keep slight left

0.2 mi · 19 sec
9

Keep slight right

0.2 mi · 20 sec
10

Merge slight right onto Billy Graham Freeway

4.5 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway
11

Keep slight left to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Billy Graham Freeway
12

Merge slight left

158 mi · 2 hr 59 min
13

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

7.8 mi · 9 min · I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
14

Merge slight right

1.8 mi · 2 min
15

Keep slight left

37 mi · 42 min
16

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

30 mi · 34 min · I 40 East: Raleigh
17

Keep slight left

9.5 mi · 10 min
18

Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

3.2 mi · 3 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
19

Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

4.0 mi · 4 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
20

Take the exit slight right toward US 70: Garner, Smithfield, Goldsboro

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 70: Garner, Smithfield, Goldsboro
21

Keep slight left to continue on US 70 East: Smithfield

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 70 East: Smithfield
22

Turn straight onto Goldsboro Highway

5.2 mi · 7 min · Goldsboro Highway
23

Continue on Clayton Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Clayton Boulevard
24

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 30 sec
25

Keep slight left

115 ft · 9 sec
26

Turn left onto Veterans Parkway

246 ft · 8 sec · Veterans Parkway
27

Continue on South Lombard Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Lombard Street
28

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 6-hour, 11-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to make the most of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially on local roads. With only one recommended stop and a 0% highway share, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but be mindful of the numerous turns. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before departing Chapel Hill. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS or mapping app, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent navigation adjustments are necessary to stay on course.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.9 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, or about 3h 5m into the drive.

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 66 miles or 1h 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 150.9 miles or 3h 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, NC

This is one driving day of about 301.9 miles and 6h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Chapel Hill, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Granite Falls, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Granite Falls, NC

151 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

Asheville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Granite Falls, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 150.9 miles from Chapel Hill, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raleigh, North Carolina

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 280.3

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cary, North Carolina

2.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Durham, North Carolina

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 258.8

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 280.3

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 280.3

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19197814810

Visit website

Kyles Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 194.1

Kernersville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13364974327

Visit website

Triangle Coffee House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 258.8

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19842191215

Visit website

1922

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 258.8

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+19849994195

Visit website

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 43.1

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 237.2

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 237.2

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 64.7

Old Fort, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 64.7

Old Fort, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 237.2

Mebane, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 258.8

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

+18889982546

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 43.1

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 43.1

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Western North Carolina Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 43.1

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+18282598080

Visit website

Lake Johnson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 280.3

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+19199963141

Visit website

Piedmont Wildlife Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 258.8

Durham, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19194890900

Visit website

East Clayton Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 301.9

Clayton, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+19195531550

Visit website

Graham Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 237.2

Haw River, North Carolina

+13365706718

Visit website

Game On Escapes & More - Cary

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 280.3

Cary, North Carolina

Hours: 10:30 am–10:30 pm

+19194380798

Visit website

All A Flutter Farms LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 194.1

High Point, North Carolina

+13364545651

Visit website

Asheville Free Walking Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 43.1

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18284190295

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.21 one way

$94.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $51.62 $103.24
premium $4.70 $55.88 $111.75
diesel $5.61 $66.66 $133.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 105.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 90.6 1 $31.70 $14.49
Efficient EV 75.5 0 $26.42 $12.08
EV Truck/SUV 120.8 1 $42.27 $19.32

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Chapel Hill, NC

Night in Chapel Hill on Saturday

Local time

9:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clayton, NC

Night in Clayton on Saturday

Local time

9:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

4 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

6h 11m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 301.9-mile route. With no highway miles, your driving experience will be characterized by frequent turns and navigation through local thoroughfares like Chapel Hill Road and Guntertown Road. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to note, as the drive is broken up by constant road changes. This means you'll be consistently engaged with the nuances of local traffic and road conditions rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted highway pace.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Chapel Hill Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Clayton, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 301.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clayton, 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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Clayton, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Clayton, NC before the return drive.

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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