Origin
Dunn, NC
Late night in Dunn on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunn, NC to Durham, 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
1h 17m
Distance
65.1 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunn, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dunn to Durham covers 65.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. This straightforward journey connects two points within the Southeast region of North Carolina, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should plan for a fuel budget of approximately $10 to complete the one-way transit. Navigating this route involves a mix of I-40, I-40 West, and I-885 North. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your schedule around your own needs rather than worrying about long stretches of road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 47.7 mi | 53m |
| I 95 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| East Cumberland Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Roxboro Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jackie Robinson Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 47.7 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunn, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on US 421; NC 55
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cumberland Street
2
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
3
Merge onto I 95
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 West: Raleigh
6
Merge onto I 40
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 40
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
33 mi
·
38 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 279B
Toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 885
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Durham Freeway
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
13
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto East Main Street
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.6 miles from Dunn, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 8.4 and 64.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
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 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
7
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 279B
Toward I 885 North: Downtown Durham
8
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
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
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
7
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
7
64.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.18 one way
$20.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.05 | $24.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.37 | $28.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.84 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.11 | $4.17 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 17m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating a series of transitions between I-40 and I-885 North, which keeps the experience engaging rather than repetitive. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch of highway here, as the longest segment on I-40 is 0 miles. This isn't a high-speed highway-dominated haul, but rather a practical connection that requires your full attention on the road layout. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that shifts frequently as you move toward your destination.
94% 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: 47.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.9 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): 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.
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 Dunn, NC to Durham, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
Wilmington
8.4 mi in
|
~10m
About the Cities
Arriving in Durham, NC
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 65.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.7 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 Durham, 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 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.9 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): 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 Durham, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Durham, NC
More trips to Durham, NC
Explore more options from Dunn, NC or browse trips ending in Durham, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.