Origin
Knightdale, NC
Late night in Knightdale on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knightdale, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 70.2-mile drive from Knightdale, NC, to Burlington, NC, will take approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes. It's a manageable distance perfect for a single-day trip, so no overnight stays are necessary. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $11. You'll be navigating through local roads for the majority of the trip, offering a more hands-on driving experience. Given that both locations are within the Southeast region of North Carolina, you'll stay within familiar territory throughout your travels.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 25.7 mi | 29m |
| Northern Wake Expressway | 19 mi | 20m |
| South Miami Boulevard | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| New Raleigh Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| NC 87 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Glenwood Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| East Harden Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Knightdale Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 25.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knightdale, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on Railroad Street
442 ft
·
21 sec
·
Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto South Smithfield Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Smithfield Road
3
Turn left onto US 64 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Knightdale Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 540 West
5
Merge onto I 540
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 70 West: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
New Raleigh Highway
9
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
26 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto NC 54
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
13
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Harden Street
14
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Harden Street
15
Take the exit onto NC 87
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 87
16
Turn left onto South Worth Street
381 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Worth Street
17
Turn right onto West Front Street
449 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Front Street
18
Turn right onto US 70; NC 62
166 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Church Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Knightdale, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 61.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 540 / Northern Wake Expressway
Merge onto I 540 / Northern Wake Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
5
22.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 70 / Glenwood Avenue
Merge onto US 70 / Glenwood Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
36 mi into trip
|
~45m 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.
8
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
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.
Exit 148
Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel Hill
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.32 one way
$20.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.28 | $22.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.22 | $24.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Burlington, NC
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
7 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
1h 22m 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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway percentage to speak of. The journey begins on local streets like South Smithfield Road and Knightdale Boulevard before transitioning onto I-540 West. While there isn't a defined longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of local roads means you'll be encountering more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. This drive offers an authentic feel of navigating through towns and suburban areas, rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Northern Wake Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near I 540 / Northern Wake Expressway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.8 miles (I 540 / Northern Wake Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (US 70 / Glenwood Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Knightdale, NC to Burlington, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Chapel Hill along the way.
Chapel Hill
61.7 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 66 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on I 85. 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 Burlington, 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 2.8 miles (I 540 / Northern Wake Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (US 70 / Glenwood Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, 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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