Origin
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Morning in Fuquay-Varina on Sunday
Local time
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fuquay-Varina, NC to Durham, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
34.3 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Fuquay-Varina, NC to Durham, NC is 34.3 miles and takes about 43m via Triangle Expressway and Durham Freeway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip connecting two locations within North Carolina's Southeast region. Given its short duration and focus on major roadways, this route is ideal for a quick transit or an easy day trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two cities efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Triangle Expressway | 16.9 mi | 18m |
| Durham Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| GB Alford Highway | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| East Broad Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Wake Chapel Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Roxboro Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jackie Robinson Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Triangle Expressway
— 16.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fuquay-Varina, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on NC 42
57 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Academy Street
2
Turn left onto US 401; NC 42
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto Wake Chapel Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wake Chapel Road
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto NC 55
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Broad Street
Use the left / right lanes.
5
Continue on NC 55
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
GB Alford Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NC 540 Toll West
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
14 mi
·
14 min
·
Triangle Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67
Toward NC 885 Toll North: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on NC 885 Toll
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Triangle Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 885
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Durham Freeway
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
14
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto East Main Street
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 34 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NC 55 / East Broad Street
At end of road, turn left onto NC 55 / East Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward NC 885 Toll North: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67
Toward NC 885 Toll North: Durham
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
7
33.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
7
34 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.36 one way
$10.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.86 | $11.73 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.57 | $15.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Durham, NC
Morning in Durham on Sunday
Local time
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
43m 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 predominantly highway-focused, with 70% of the journey utilizing major expressways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 16.9 miles on the Triangle Expressway, offering a consistent, high-speed driving experience. The route transitions to the Durham Freeway and GB Alford Highway as you approach your destination, maintaining a generally fast pace. Expect minimal interruptions and a smooth ride suitable for covering ground quickly.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.9 mi on Triangle Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Triangle Expressway and Durham Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near NC 55 / East Broad Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 34.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (NC 55 / East Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 43m. Total distance: 34.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.9 miles on Triangle Expressway. 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 Durham, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.1 miles (NC 55 / East Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Durham, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Durham, NC
More from Fuquay-Varina, NC
More trips to Durham, NC
Explore more options from Fuquay-Varina, NC or browse trips ending in Durham, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.