Origin
Henderson, NC
Late night in Henderson on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Henderson, 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
48m
Distance
40.3 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Henderson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 40.3-mile drive from Henderson, NC to Durham, NC is a quick trip, averaging around 48 minutes. It's primarily an interstate journey, making it an ideal day trip within North Carolina. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $6, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's excursion. You'll spend most of your time on I-85, so expect a straightforward drive. No overnight stays are recommended, giving you flexibility to depart and arrive as you please.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 37 mi | 40m |
| North Mangum Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Andrews Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Roxboro Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I-85 South Access Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Markham Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Garnett Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 37 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, NC and Durham, NC.
1
Start on US 1 BUS; US 158 BUS
19 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Garnett Street
2
Turn right onto NC 39
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Andrews Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
156 ft
·
4 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
5
Merge onto I 85; US 158
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 85; US 158
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 15 Business, US 501 Business, NC 55: Downtown Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I-85 South Access Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
I-85 South Access Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Roxboro Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on US 15 Business; US 50
479 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Markham Avenue
10
Turn slight left onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Mangum Street
Use the slight left / slight right / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Henderson, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 39 / West Andrews Avenue
Turn right onto NC 39 / West Andrews Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 85; US 158
Merge onto I 85; US 158
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
38.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward US 15 Business, US 501 Business, NC 55: Downtown Durham
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 US 15 Business, US 501 Business, NC 55:...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.30 one way
$12.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.46 | $14.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.90 | $17.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
12:17 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
6 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
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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 92% of this 40.3-mile journey. The bulk of your travel will be on I-85, with a continuous stretch of 37 miles on this major interstate. You'll transition to North Mangum Street and West Andrews Avenue as you approach Durham. This route offers a direct and efficient path, prioritizing speed and ease of travel over winding scenic byways.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and North Mangum Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 39 / West Andrews Avenue.
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 40.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (NC 39 / West Andrews Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Henderson, NC
Full guide →Henderson is in North Carolina.
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 48m. Total distance: 40.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on I 85. 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: near the start (NC 39 / West Andrews Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
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