Origin
Hillsborough, NC
Morning in Hillsborough on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsborough, NC to West 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
48m
Distance
35.8 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
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.
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
West Raleigh, NC
Evgeniia Belman
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 35.8-mile journey from Hillsborough, NC, to West Raleigh, NC, that will take approximately 48 minutes to complete. This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 80% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-85 and I-40, along with the Durham Freeway. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's perfectly suited as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a fuel cost of around $6 for this leg. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, keeping the travel context consistent.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Durham Freeway | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| I 40 | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| I 85 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Hillsborough Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| US 70 Business | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 86 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Faircloth Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Durham Freeway
— 12.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough, NC and West Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on West King Street
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
West King Street
2
Turn right onto US 70 Business; NC 86
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Churton Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 70 Business; NC 86
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 70 Business; NC 86
4
Turn right onto NC 86
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 86
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
6
Merge onto I 85
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Durham Freeway
Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Wade Avenue
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Faircloth Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Faircloth Street
12
Turn left onto Hillsborough Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
13
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
14
Continue on Hillsborough Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
15
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
16
Continue on Hillsborough Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
17
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
Hillsborough Street
18
Continue on Hillsborough Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillsborough Street
19
Turn left onto Enterprise Street
71 ft
·
2 sec
·
Enterprise Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Enterprise Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from Hillsborough, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 35.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 86 / State Highway 86
Turn right onto NC 86 / State Highway 86
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
8.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 147 South: Downtown Durham, Duke Univ...
8
20.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 5A
Toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
8
30.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
6
35.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Enterprise Street
Turn left onto Enterprise Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.12 | $12.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.63 | $13.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
West Raleigh, NC
Morning in West Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
4 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
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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 80% of your travel on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of fast-paced driving, including a notable 12.4-mile segment on the Durham Freeway. While much of the journey is on interstates like I-40 and I-85, the overall profile suggests a consistent, efficient pace. The character of the road remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel over scenic detours, making it a predictable drive for getting from point A to point B.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on Durham Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Durham Freeway and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near NC 86 / State Highway 86.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 35.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (NC 86 / State Highway 86): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hillsborough, NC and West Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Duke University, Carolina Central University, Research Triangle Park and Raleigh.
Duke University
8.2 mi in
|
~11m
|
via NC 147
Carolina Central University
8.2 mi in
|
~11m
|
via NC 147
Research Triangle Park
8.2 mi in
|
~11m
|
via NC 147
Raleigh
20.6 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Hillsborough, NC
Full guide →Hillsborough is an incredibly historic town in North Carolina, important to the history of the state. Easily accessible from nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, it has a cute historic downtown and a "small town" feel.
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: 35.8 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 (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on Durham Freeway. 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 West 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 1.2 miles (NC 86 / State Highway 86): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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