US 70 Craven County
0.2 mi from route
Trip from Durham, NC to Trent Woods, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 48m
Distance
139.2 mi
224 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 37m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Durham, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trent Woods, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Durham, NC to Trent Woods, NC covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East New Bern Road, US 70, Goldsboro Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.9 miles on East New Bern Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
69.6 miles from Durham, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East New Bern Road | 29.9 mi | 33m |
| US 70 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| Goldsboro Bypass | 19.8 mi | 21m |
| I 40 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| US 70 BYP | 14.3 mi | 19m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Durham Freeway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
East New Bern Road
— 29.9 mi, about 33m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 37 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,805 veh/hr typical · worst 5,845
Quietest
2 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, NC and Trent Woods, 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 right at fork onto I 42
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
Exit 309
Toward I 42 East: Smithfield, Goldsboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 70
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US 70
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 70 BYP
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 70
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on I 42
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Goldsboro Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 70
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto US 70; US 258
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West New Bern Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on US 70; NC 58
30 mi
·
33 min
·
East New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
21
Keep slight right at fork
136 ft
·
3 sec
22
Turn right onto South Glenburnie Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Glenburnie Road
23
Turn left onto Trent Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Trent Road
24
Turn right onto Chelsea Road
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Chelsea Road
25
Turn left onto Country Club Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Country Club Drive
26
Turn right onto Village Green Drive
161 ft
·
12 sec
·
Village Green Drive
27
Turn left onto Village Green Court
369 ft
·
17 sec
·
Village Green Court
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Durham, NC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 24m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trent Woods, 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 139.2 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 East New Bern Road for about 29.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.6 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
IONNA Drivers Lounge
1.8 mi from route
I-95 Southbound ─ Johnston County
2.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 37.6 — 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
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
37.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 42 / Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 42 / Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway toward I 42 East: Smithfield, Goldsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 309
Toward I 42 East: Smithfield, Goldsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.33 one way
$42.66 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $23.41 | $46.81 |
| premium | $4.64 | $25.41 | $50.82 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $30.68 | $61.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.62 | $6.68 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.49 | $8.91 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Origin
Durham, NC
Night in Durham on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Trent Woods, NC
Night in Trent Woods on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Princeton, NC
70 mi in
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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 48m 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?
139.2 mi in 2h 48m — 51% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: East New Bern Road.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.9 mi on East New Bern Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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
9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 139.2 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
432 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
61 ft
Total Descent
451 ft
Highest Point
432 ft
~19.9 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
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 Trent Woods, NC, road signs point toward Raleigh and Goldsboro.
Raleigh
7.3 mi in
|
~10m
Goldsboro
37.6 mi in
|
~45m
|
via I 42
About the Cities
Starting in Durham, NC
Full guide →Founded 1869
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.
Top landmarks
- • Bennett Place State Historic Site — historic site in Durham North Carolina, United States
- • City Garage Yard and Fire Drill Tower — fire drill tower
- • American Tobacco Trail — Rails-to-Trails project located in North Carolina
Arriving in Trent Woods, NC
Full guide →Founded 1959
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 48m. Total distance: 139.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.9 miles on East New Bern Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Trent Woods, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Trent Woods, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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