Origin
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, NC to Alamance, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alamance, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Durham to Alamance is 37.1 miles and takes about 46m via I 85, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on the interstate, making it a quick and efficient way to travel between these locations. You'll likely find this route to be a practical choice for a short journey, offering minimal detours and a predictable travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 33m |
| Durham Freeway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Alamance Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| S NC Highway 62 E | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Mangum Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jackie Robinson Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cardinal Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 28.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Alamance, NC.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Mangum Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn right onto Jackie Robinson Drive
214 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
4
Take the ramp
505 ft
·
12 sec
5
Merge onto NC 147
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto I 85; US 70
29 mi
·
33 min
·
I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Alamance
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto NC 62
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on NC 62
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
S NC Highway 62 E
10
Turn left onto Cardinal Lane
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Cardinal Lane
11
Arrive at destination
Cardinal Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Durham, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street
Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Merge onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 85; US 70
Merge onto I 85; US 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward NC 62: Alamance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143
Toward NC 62: Alamance
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
NC 62 / Alamance Road
Turn left onto NC 62 / Alamance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.80 one way
$11.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.34 | $12.69 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Alamance, NC
Late night in Alamance on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Orange County, NC
19 mi in
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
32 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 85, including an uninterrupted stretch of 28.9 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by the efficiency of the interstate system. The profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, meaning you'll likely encounter straightforward navigation and minimal winding roads as you make your way from Durham to Alamance.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.9 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Durham Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 85; US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 46m. Total distance: 37.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.9 miles on I 85. 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: at 0.1 miles (US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 85; US 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alamance, 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.
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