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Trip from Greenville, NC to Raleigh, NC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

83.7 mi

135 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

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

city in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States

Greenville, NC

Wikimedia Commons

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

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 83.7-mile journey from Greenville, NC to Raleigh, NC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on I-587 and I-87, with a portion on John P. East Memorial Highway. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it's a straightforward drive without the need for an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $13, making it an economical option for a quick transit between these two Southeast region locations. This route offers a practical way to connect two North Carolina cities without significant time commitment.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.8 miles from Greenville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 587 40.8 mi 43m
John P East Memorial Highway 32.8 mi 35m
I 87 2.7 mi 3m
Stantonsburg Road 2.5 mi 4m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard 1.2 mi 2m
Rock Quarry Road 0.7 mi 1m
West 10th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Farmville Boulevard 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 587 — 40.8 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Summit Street

0.2 mi · 53 sec · South Summit Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto East 5th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East 5th Street
3

Turn left onto South Evans Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · South Evans Street
4

Turn right onto West 10th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 10th Street
5

Continue on Farmville Boulevard

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Farmville Boulevard
6

Continue on Stantonsburg Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · Stantonsburg Road
7

Continue on I 587

33 mi · 35 min · John P East Memorial Highway
8

Merge onto I 587; I 795; US 264

41 mi · 43 min · I 587; I 795; US 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64

2.7 mi · 3 min · I 87; I 440; US 64
10

Merge onto I 40; US 64

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Rock Quarry Road
13

Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Rock Quarry Road
14

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Turn left onto East South Street

24 ft · 0 sec · East South Street
17

Arrive at destination

East South Street

Trip Plan

Planning this 1-hour and 37-minute drive is simple thanks to its short length. You can depart at your convenience, but avoiding peak rush hour traffic in Raleigh is always a good idea. With no designated stops in the data, flexibility is key; you can easily pull over for breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $13, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential transitions between highway speeds and lower speed limits as you approach the Raleigh area, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the final approach on I-87.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.8 miles from Greenville, NC, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.8 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 18 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.8 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 20m

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 Greenville, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Greenville, NC

This is one driving day of about 83.7 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Greenville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 587 for about 40.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city and the county seat of Wilson County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wilson, NC

42 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.

Popular next leg

Wilson, NC to Raleigh, NC

47.4 mi · 59m

Pacing Suggestions

Farmville, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilson, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.8 miles from Greenville, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 83.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 5th Street

At end of road, turn right onto East 5th Street

Navigation decision point

5
37.3 mi into trip | ~43m in | I 587; I 795; US 264

Merge onto I 587; I 795; US 264

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
81.2 mi into trip | ~1h 31m 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
5
82.2 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
83.5 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | South Wilmington Street

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.09 one way

$26.18 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $14.31 $28.62
premium $4.70 $15.49 $30.98
diesel $5.61 $18.48 $36.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02
Efficient EV 20.9 0 $7.32 $3.35
EV Truck/SUV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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 20, 2026

Origin

Greenville, NC

Late night in Greenville on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raleigh, NC

Late night in Raleigh on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°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

3 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

1h 37m 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?

The drive presents a mixed profile, with 52% of the route utilizing highway travel. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 40.8 miles on I-587, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. While much of the drive is on major roadways, the inclusion of John P. East Memorial Highway suggests some variation from pure interstate conditions. Expect a blend of faster highway driving and potentially more local road segments as you navigate between these two North Carolina destinations. The road character shifts subtly, offering a dynamic driving experience.

52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.8 mi on I 587.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 East 5th Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 83.7 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 (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.3 miles (I 587; I 795; US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

350 ft 58 ft

Total Climb

519 ft

Total Descent

261 ft

Highest Point

350 ft

~65.7 mi in

Elevation Range

293 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Greenville, NC

Full guide →

Founded 1786

Greenville, one of the fastest growing cities in North Carolina, is the county seat of Pitt County, and is the principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is known as the cultural, economical, and educational hub of North Carolina's Inner Banks, the geographical area east of Raleigh and west of the North Carolina coast.

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 37m. Total distance: 83.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 40.8 miles on I 587. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.3 miles (I 587; I 795; US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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