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Trip from Chapel Hill, NC to Walnut Creek, NC

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

Drive Time

42m

Distance

20 mi

32 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 39m ★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m

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

Best Time
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town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Chapel Hill, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Walnut Creek, NC, NC

Walnut Creek, NC

Keith Cassill

Trip Overview

Chapel Hill, NC to Walnut Creek, NC is 20 miles and takes about 42m via US 25, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within North Carolina, making it a straightforward same-day excursion. The route primarily follows highways, offering a direct path between these two Southeast locations. With minimal distance and a quick drive time, this is an easy option for a quick trip or to connect to other journeys. Expect a focused highway experience for the entirety of your travel.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 25 9.9 mi 16m
NC 208 3.5 mi 5m
Walnut Creek Road 2.9 mi 9m
Guntertown Road 2.2 mi 5m
Chapel Hill Road 1.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: US 25 — 9.9 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

27 ft · 4 sec · this road
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 end of road, turn left onto NC 208

3.5 mi · 5 min · NC 208
5

Continue on US 25; US 70

9.9 mi · 16 min · US 25; US 70
6

Turn sharp left onto Walnut Creek Road

2.9 mi · 9 min · Walnut Creek Road
7

Arrive at destination

Walnut Creek Road

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Chapel Hill Road

Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

Navigation decision point

5
3.7 mi into trip | ~11m in | NC 208

At end of road, turn left onto NC 208

Navigation decision point

5
17.1 mi into trip | ~33m in | Walnut Creek Road

Turn sharp left onto Walnut Creek Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.95 one way

$5.91 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.12 $3.24 $6.49
premium $4.49 $3.54 $7.07
diesel $4.80 $3.78 $7.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6 0 $2.10 $0.96
Efficient EV 5 0 $1.75 $0.80
EV Truck/SUV 8 0 $2.80 $1.28

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jul 12, 2026

Origin

Chapel Hill, NC

Late night in Chapel Hill on Sunday

Local time

2:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 2 mph 71% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 12 at 12:13AM EDT until July 13 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN

Destination

Walnut Creek, NC

Late night in Walnut Creek on Sunday

Local time

2:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SSW 2 mph 81% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 12 at 12:13AM EDT until July 13 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN

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

1 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

42m 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 route is heavily highway-focused, with 67% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of US 25, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted segment at 9.9 miles. The character of the drive is largely defined by these highway sections, suggesting a steady pace. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of NC 208 and Walnut Creek Road indicates a transition to more localized roads as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent driving experience with a clear focus on efficient travel.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.9 mi on US 25.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 25 and NC 208. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chapel Hill Road.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Chapel Hill, NC to Walnut Creek, NC is easy. At 42m with 67% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (NC 208): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (Walnut Creek Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

2,270 ft 1,596 ft

Total Climb

935 ft

Total Descent

994 ft

Highest Point

2,270 ft

~10 mi in

Elevation Range

674 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Chapel Hill, NC

Full guide →

Founded 1793

Scenic and regularly decked out in "Carolina blue", Chapel Hill is a lovely college town in North Carolina that makes up the westernmost point of the Research Triangle. The town is the smallest of the Triangle's three cities, with an influence and pull that belies its size. Based around the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the town caters heavily to the local student population, with plenty of bars and restaurants near the university's beautiful campus. Immediately to the west of Chapel Hill is the adjacent town of Carrboro, an old mill town now known for its local shops, restaurants and nightlife.

Top landmarks

  • • Carolina Inn — hotel in Chapel Hill, United States
  • • Old East — Residence hall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA)
  • • Playmakers Theatre — theatre building on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil...

Arriving in Walnut Creek, NC

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 20 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9.9 miles on US 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: near the start (Chapel Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (NC 208): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (Walnut Creek Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Walnut Creek, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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