Origin
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, NC to Saint James, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 41m
Distance
187.3 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint James, NC
Jo Kassis
Trip Overview
Durham, NC to Saint James, NC is 187.3 miles and takes about 3h 41m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. Consider this route if you need a no-fuss way to get from point A to point B with minimal navigational challenges. The relatively short duration means you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.6 miles from Durham, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 123.6 mi | 2h 13m |
| John Jay Burney Jr Freeway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Ocean Highway East | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Midway Road Southeast | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Middleton Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| St James Drive Southeast | 2.8 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 123.6 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Saint James, NC.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Dillard Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Dillard Street
3
Turn left onto East Pettigrew Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Pettigrew Street
4
Turn right onto Fayetteville Road
472 ft
·
21 sec
·
Fayetteville Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto NC 147
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 40
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 140 West, US 17 South: Shallote, Myrtle Beach
17
Merge onto I 140
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto US 17
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
21
Continue on US 17 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
22
Continue on US 17 Business
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Old Ocean Highway
23
Turn left onto NC 906
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Midway Road Southeast
24
Continue on NC 906
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Middleton Street
25
Turn slight left onto St James Drive Southeast
97 ft
·
4 sec
·
St James Drive Southeast
26
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
1.9 mi
·
7 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
27
Continue on Trailwood Drive Southeast
365 ft
·
16 sec
·
Trailwood Drive Southeast
28
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
29
Enter roundabout onto St James Drive Southeast
245 ft
·
11 sec
·
St James Drive Southeast
30
Continue on St James Drive Southeast
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
St James Drive Southeast
31
Turn left
118 ft
·
8 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 41m estimated drive time, leaving Durham in the morning allows ample time to reach Saint James before evening. With only one recommended stop and 85% of the route on highways like I 40, you can cover significant ground quickly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 123.6 miles on I 40, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost of $29 is a helpful budget marker for this 187.3-mile trip, so plan accordingly before you depart.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.6 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.6 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.6 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint James, 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 187.3 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Durham, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 123.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.6 miles from Durham, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.6 miles.
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 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 164.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Fayetteville Road
Turn right onto Fayetteville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
8
39.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
8
164.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 17: Shallotte, Myrtle Beach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.29 one way
$58.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $32.03 | $64.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.67 | $69.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.35 | $82.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.67 | $8.99 |
| Efficient EV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.9 | 0 | $26.22 | $11.99 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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
Saint James, NC
Late night in Saint James on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
6 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
3h 41m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 135.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I 40, which also forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 123.6 miles. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your travel, as this profile suggests minimal deviation onto slower, more winding roads. The John Jay Burney Jr Freeway and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway will also contribute to this high-speed character as you navigate through North Carolina.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and John Jay Burney Jr Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Fayetteville Road.
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 22 significant decision points across 187.3 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 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Durham, NC and Saint James, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.
Wilmington
41.4 mi in
|
~49m
|
via I 40
Myrtle Beach
144.9 mi in
|
~2h 40m
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 3h 41m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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 Saint James, 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Fayetteville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint James, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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