Origin
Knightdale, NC
Late night in Knightdale on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knightdale, NC to Apex, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knightdale, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 27.3-mile drive from Knightdale, NC to Apex, NC is a quick trip, estimated to take about 36 minutes. With a fuel cost of approximately $4, it’s an economical choice for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes highways, making up 69% of the journey, so expect a generally fast-paced experience. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of North Carolina for the entire duration. Given its short length, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop, offering flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 87 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| US 64 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Smithfield Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Center Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Railroad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 9.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knightdale, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on Railroad Street
442 ft
·
26 sec
·
Railroad Street
2
Turn left onto South Smithfield Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Smithfield Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 87 South, US 64 West, US 264 West: Raleigh
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 87; US 64; US 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
6
Merge onto I 40; US 64
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 40; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
8
Continue on I 40; US 64
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
9
Continue on I 40; US 64
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
10
Take the exit onto US 64
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 64
Toward I 440 East, US 1, US 64 West: Raleigh, Wake Forest, Sanford, Asheboro
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 64
Exit 293A
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Sanford, Asheboro
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Apex, Sanford, Asheboro
16
Merge onto US 1; US 64
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 96
Toward Ten Ten Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto SR 1010
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Salem Street
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
North Salem Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 27.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 87 South, US 64 West, US 264 West: Raleigh
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 87 South, US 64 West, US 264 West: Ral...
6
19.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64 toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
9
19.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 293A
Toward US 1 South, US 64 West: Cary, Asheboro
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Ten Ten Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 96
Toward Ten Ten Road
7
27.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
North Salem Street
At end of road, turn right onto North Salem Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.27 one way
$8.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.67 | $9.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.05 | $10.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Apex, NC
Late night in Apex on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
25 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
36m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 69% of the 27.3 miles on faster roads like I 87 and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 9.3 miles on I 87, offering an uninterrupted period of highway travel. While the majority of the route is on these main arteries, the inclusion of Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway suggests some transitions between different types of roadway. The overall character is one of efficient travel, designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
69% 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: 9.3 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 27.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.2 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Knightdale, NC and Apex, NC, road signs point toward Wake Forest, Sanford and Asheboro.
Wake Forest
18.9 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 64
Sanford
18.9 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 64
Asheboro
18.9 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 64
About the Cities
Arriving in Apex, NC
Full guide →Apex, the "Peak City", is a town near Raleigh in the state of North Carolina.
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 36m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.3 miles on I 87. 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 Apex, 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 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.2 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Apex, 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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