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Trip from Emerald Isle, NC to Raleigh, 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 9m

Distance

150.9 mi

243 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 58m ★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Emerald Isle, NC, NC

Emerald Isle, NC

William Lucord

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 150.9-mile drive from Emerald Isle, NC, to Raleigh, NC, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes. You'll primarily travel on US 17 and US 70, with a portion on Emerald Drive. With 57% highway share, it offers a mixed driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $24, making it an economical option. Given the relatively short duration and distance, you can depart at your leisure and arrive in Raleigh the same day, enjoying the convenience of a single-day excursion within the Southeast region.

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

75.4 miles from Emerald Isle, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 17 43.6 mi 49m
Emerald Drive 26.8 mi 40m
US 70 23.2 mi 29m
Goldsboro Bypass 20.2 mi 21m
US 70 BYP 10.1 mi 12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway 10 mi 11m
I 40 8.6 mi 9m
West New Bern Road 3.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 17 — 43.6 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Emerald Isle, NC and Raleigh, NC.

1

Start on NC 58

5.9 mi · 10 min · Emerald Drive
Use the straight lane.
2

Enter roundabout onto NC 58

82 ft · 1 sec · Emerald Drive
3

Continue on NC 58

21 mi · 30 min · Emerald Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 58

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Merge onto US 17; NC 58

17 mi · 19 min · US 17; NC 58
Use the straight lane.
6

Merge onto US 17; US 70

27 mi · 29 min · US 17; US 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on US 70; US 258

1.1 mi · 1 min · West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258

2.1 mi · 3 min · West New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 70; US 258

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Vernon Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 70

9.6 mi · 11 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on I 42

20 mi · 21 min · Goldsboro Bypass
12

Continue on US 70

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 70

10 mi · 14 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on US 70

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP

10 mi · 12 min · US 70 BYP
16

Continue on I 42

10.0 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
17

Merge onto I 40

8.6 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Rock Quarry Road
20

Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Rock Quarry Road
21

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Turn left onto East South Street

24 ft · 0 sec · East South Street
24

Arrive at destination

East South Street

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour, 9-minute trip, consider an early morning departure from Emerald Isle to maximize your time in Raleigh, or a mid-morning start if you prefer a more relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $24, you have the flexibility to be spontaneous. Pay attention to the transition points between US 17 and US 70, as these can be areas where traffic might slow. Since this is a single-day drive, pack snacks and drinks to minimize the need for extended stops, allowing you to reach Raleigh efficiently.

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 75.4 miles from Emerald Isle, NC, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.6 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 33 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.4 miles or 1h 38m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Emerald Isle, 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 Emerald Isle, NC

This is one driving day of about 150.9 miles and 3h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Emerald Isle, 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 US 17 for about 43.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ayden, NC

75 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

Brices Creek, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ayden, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.4 miles from Emerald Isle, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raleigh, North Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 150.9

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 150.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

2.9 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 10.8

Cape Carteret, North Carolina

+19102395580

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 43.1

New Bern, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 75.4

Kinston, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 43.1

New Bern, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 10.8

Swansboro, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 43.1

New Bern, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 10.8

Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Circle K Charging Station

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 43.1

New Bern, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12525140071

Visit website

Nature Research Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 150.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19197079800

Visit website

East Clayton Community Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 129.3

Clayton, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+19195531550

Visit website

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 150.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 12–8 pm

+19199484450

Visit website

Lake Benson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 140.1

Garner, North Carolina

+19197734442

Visit website

Wayne County Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 97

Goldsboro, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+19197345023

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 150.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
26.8 mi into trip | ~40m in | US 17 Business; NC 58 / Main Street

Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 58 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
28 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 17; NC 58

Merge onto US 17; NC 58

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
72.7 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
148.4 mi into trip | ~3h 3m in

Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
6
150.7 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in | South Wilmington Street

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.60 one way

$47.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $25.80 $51.60
premium $4.70 $27.93 $55.86
diesel $5.61 $33.32 $66.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.3 0 $15.84 $7.24
Efficient EV 37.7 0 $13.20 $6.04
EV Truck/SUV 60.4 0 $21.13 $9.66

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Emerald Isle, NC

Afternoon in Emerald Isle on Sunday

Local time

1:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raleigh, NC

Afternoon in Raleigh on Sunday

Local time

1:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°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

13 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

3h 9m 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 mixed drive on this route, with a notable 57% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.6 miles along US 17, offering a good period of consistent travel. While not entirely a highway grind, the presence of main roads like US 70 suggests a blend of faster segments and more localized driving as you approach your destination. This means you'll experience varying road conditions and speeds, keeping the drive engaging without becoming overly demanding.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.6 mi on US 17.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 26.8 miles in near US 17 Business; NC 58 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 150.9 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 26.8 miles (US 17 Business; NC 58 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (US 17; NC 58): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

315 ft 12 ft

Total Climb

330 ft

Total Descent

27 ft

Highest Point

315 ft

~150.9 mi in

Elevation Range

303 ft

About the Cities

Arriving in Raleigh, NC

Full guide →

The capital of North Carolina and the largest city of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is the primary political and economic driver of the metro area. Indeed, business and politics are the main draws to Raleigh, which lacks the more trendy feel or active arts scene of Durham or Chapel Hill to the west. However, a concerted effort to expand the residential base and move events downtown has led to significantly expanded retail and restaurant options in the downtown core. Also, visitors will find many of the state's cultural institutions here, namely a major performing arts center downtown and three state museums, and a college town atmosphere in the neighborhood around the campus of North Carolina State University, the state's largest university.

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 9m. Total distance: 150.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 43.6 miles on US 17. 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 Raleigh, 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 26.8 miles (US 17 Business; NC 58 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles (US 17; NC 58): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (US 70; US 258 / West New Bern Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Raleigh, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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