Hertford, NC to Greensboro, NC is 220.9 miles and takes about 4h 25m via US 13 and I-85, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region towards the Piedmont. Given the relatively short distance and primarily highway profile, this is a straightforward drive. You'll likely find it efficient for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours or complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.5 miles from Hertford, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 13
72.2 mi
1h 22m
I 85
42.3 mi
48m
Ocean Highway South
32.6 mi
40m
US 64 Bypass
27.8 mi
29m
Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi
16m
South Miami Boulevard
9.3 mi
12m
Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi
6m
East Gate City Boulevard
3.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 13
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,018 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~466 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hertford, NC and Greensboro, NC.
1
Start on West Grubb Street
180 ft·10 sec·West Grubb Street
2
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·North Church Street
3
Turn right onto US 17; NC 37
33 mi·40 min·Ocean Highway South
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 13; US 17 BYP
16 mi·21 min·US 13; US 17 BYP
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 13; US 64
6
Continue on US 64 Bypass
28 mi·29 min·US 64 Bypass
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
8
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft·7 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
9
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Rolesville Road
10
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Marks Creek Road
11
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi·43 sec·Horton Road
12
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
14
Merge onto I 540
15 mi·16 min·Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 70 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·New Raleigh Highway
18
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi·12 min·South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
42 mi·48 min·I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
3.3 mi·3 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NC 6Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto East Gate City Boulevard
3.4 mi·7 min·East Gate City Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto South Eugene Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Eugene Street
24
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Market Street
25
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip of 220.9 miles, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With a 4h 25m estimated drive time, you'll have ample flexibility for a single stop. Consider refueling before you leave Hertford, as the estimated fuel cost is around $34. The route involves a significant portion on US 13, so be aware of the longest stretch of 72.2 miles before you reach I-85; plan accordingly if you need a break before that point.
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 110.5 miles from Hertford, NC, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 49 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greensboro, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hertford, 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 Hertford, NC
This is one driving day of about 220.9 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Hertford, 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 13 for about 72.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 133.8 and 216.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
133.8 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
6
156.8 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 70 West: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 70 West: Durham
6
171 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|I 85; US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
213.3 mi into trip|~4h 12m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
216.6 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward NC 6
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NC 6
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.61 one way
$65.23 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$35.84
$71.68
premium
$4.49
$39.07
$78.13
diesel
$4.80
$41.71
$83.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hertford, NC
Late night
in Hertford on Sunday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:56PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:49PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Destination
Greensboro, NC
Late night
in Greensboro on Sunday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
97°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:56PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 4:49PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
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
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
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 73% of the drive on interstates or major US routes. You'll experience a consistent cruising pace for much of the trip. The longest stretch without a significant break from highway driving is 72.2 miles on US 13. Expect a notable shift when you transition from US 13 to I-85, where the environment will likely become more geared towards faster, long-distance travel with more frequent exits and merging traffic.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on US 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 13 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 133.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 220.9 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 133.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 171 miles (I 85; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Top landmarks
•Guilford Courthouse National Military Park — site maintained by the U.S. National Park Service commemorating the battle
•Greensboro Science Center — science museum and zoological park
•Grimsley High School — public school in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 220.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on US 13. 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 Greensboro, 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 133.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 156.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 171 miles (I 85; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Greensboro, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
