Origin
Goldsboro, NC
Late night in Goldsboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Goldsboro, NC to Raleigh, 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
1h 8m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Goldsboro, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Goldsboro to Raleigh, you are looking at a straightforward 51.2-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Because the transit time is so manageable, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or heavy logistics. Budgeting around $8 for fuel should cover your needs for the drive. Whether you are heading into the capital for business or visiting family, this direct path offers a predictable and efficient way to reach your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 17.4 mi | 24m |
| US 70 BYP | 10.1 mi | 12m |
| Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway | 10 mi | 11m |
| I 40 | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Grantham Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North George Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 70
— 17.4 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goldsboro, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on US 70 Business; US 117 Business
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Ash Street
2
Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business
169 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Ash Street
3
Continue on US 70 Business; US 117 Business
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Ash Street
4
Turn right onto US 70 Business
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
North George Street
5
Turn left onto US 70 Business
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Grantham Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 70
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 70
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 70
10 mi
·
14 min
·
US 70
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 70
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
10 mi
·
12 min
·
US 70 BYP
10
Continue on I 42
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
11
Merge onto I 40
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
14
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
15
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
18
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Goldsboro, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 51 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street
Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 70 Business / Grantham Street
Turn left onto US 70 Business / Grantham Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
40.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.01 one way
$16.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.75 | $17.51 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.48 | $18.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Raleigh, NC
Late night in Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Smithfield, NC
26 mi in
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
21 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
1h 8m 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 highway-focused drive relies heavily on US 70 and the US 70 BYP to navigate the transition between Goldsboro and Raleigh. With 71% of your journey spent on highways, you can expect a steady pace rather than a winding backroad experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 17.4-mile segment along US 70, which keeps the flow of traffic consistent. Utilizing the Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway helps maintain momentum as you move toward the metropolitan area. Behind the wheel, you will find the transition from the smaller city environment of Goldsboro to the busier roads approaching Raleigh to be relatively seamless.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.4 mi on US 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and US 70 BYP. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (US 70 Business / Grantham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
377 ft
107 ft
Total Climb
370 ft
Total Descent
161 ft
Highest Point
377 ft
~43.9 mi in
Elevation Range
271 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Goldsboro, NC
Full guide →Goldsboro is a rapidly growing town in Wayne County, on the North Carolina Coastal Plain, near the Research Triangle. The city has nearly 36,000 residents (2016) with a growing commercial and suburban lifestyle. This city is home to F-15E fighter wing housed at Seymour Johnson AFB, and is the hometown of Andy Griffith.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.4 miles on US 70. 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 Raleigh, 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 0.2 miles (US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (US 70 Business / Grantham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 40): 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 Raleigh, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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