Origin
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, NC to Badin, 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
2h 24m
Distance
116.3 mi
187 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Badin, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 116.3-mile journey from Durham, NC to Badin, NC is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 24 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-85 and NC-49, this route is almost entirely highway, making it a good option for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it's an economical choice for exploring within the Southeast region. The drive offers a practical way to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.1 miles from Durham, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 40.6 mi | 46m |
| NC 49 | 25.5 mi | 33m |
| Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway | 16.5 mi | 17m |
| I 40 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| East Gold Street | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| I 73 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Durham Freeway | 5 mi | 6m |
| NC 8 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 40.6 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Badin, 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
41 mi
·
46 min
·
I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 220
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 73; I 74; US 220
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 73; I 74; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
13
Keep slight right at fork
206 ft
·
4 sec
14
Turn slight right onto Albemarle Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Albemarle Road
15
Continue on NC 49
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
NC 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on NC 49
16 mi
·
19 min
·
NC 49
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn slight left onto NC 8
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
NC 8
18
Turn left onto NC 740
7.5 mi
·
12 min
·
East Gold Street
19
Arrive at destination
NC 740
Trip Plan
Given its manageable 2-hour and 24-minute duration, this route is perfect for a day trip, allowing you to leave Durham at your leisure. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed, though plan for fuel before you depart, as the estimated $18 cost suggests a straightforward drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 40.6-mile stretch on I-85, as services can be more spread out on interstates. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid peak commuter traffic out of Durham.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.1 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.6 miles.
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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Badin, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Durham, 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 Durham, NC
This is one driving day of about 116.3 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Durham, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 40.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.1 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 53.9 — 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.
6
46.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.19 one way
$36.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.89 | $39.77 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.52 | $43.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.68 | $51.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| Efficient EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.18 | $4.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.28 | $7.44 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Badin, NC
Late night in Badin on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
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
2h 24m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 92% of the drive taking place on faster roads like I-85 and the Governor John Motley Morehead Expressway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.6 miles on I-85, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. While the route is largely efficient, the transition onto NC-49 will introduce a different road character. This drive is best characterized by its focus on covering distance efficiently.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.6 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and NC 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Mangum Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 116.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 2h 24m. Total distance: 116.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.6 miles on I 85. 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 Badin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 Badin, 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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