This 191.7-mile drive from Leland, NC to Burlington, NC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US, staying within North Carolina for the entire journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $30, making it an economical choice. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so while it's not an overly long haul, planning for one stop is recommended to break up the drive. This trip is perfect for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.9 miles from Leland, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
103.3 mi
1h 50m
I 40
69.5 mi
1h 19m
John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
11.1 mi
11m
NC 87
2.3 mi
3m
East Harden Street
1.6 mi
2m
Mount Misery Road Northeast
1.1 mi
1m
Leland School Road Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Village Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leland, NC and Burlington, NC.
1
Start on Post Office Road Northeast
282 ft·13 sec·Post Office Road Northeast
2
Turn right onto Lincoln Road Northeast
272 ft·12 sec·Lincoln Road Northeast
3
Turn right onto Village Road
0.2 mi·19 sec·Village Road
4
Turn right onto Leland School Road Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Leland School Road Northeast
5
At end of road, turn right onto Mount Misery Road Northeast
1.1 mi·1 min·Mount Misery Road Northeast
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto I 140
11 mi·11 min·John Jay Burney Jr Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
10
Merge onto I 40
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Michael Jordan Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 148Toward NC 54: Graham, Chapel HillUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto NC 54
0.7 mi·1 min·East Harden Street
14
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
98 ft·1 sec·East Harden Street
15
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
0.9 mi·1 min·East Harden Street
16
Take the exit onto NC 87
2.3 mi·3 min·NC 87
17
Turn left onto South Worth Street
381 ft·21 sec·South Worth Street
18
Turn right onto West Front Street
449 ft·23 sec·West Front Street
19
Turn right onto US 70; NC 62
166 ft·3 sec·South Church Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 70; NC 62
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 35-minute duration, departing in the morning will allow ample time to reach Burlington without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing when and where to take a break, perhaps after the longest stretch on Michael Jordan Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer highway segments, to ensure you're prepared. The $30 fuel cost suggests budgeting for one fill-up might be prudent. This is a straightforward drive, so a morning departure is ideal.
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 95.9 miles from Leland, NC, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.3 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 42 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leland, 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 Leland, NC
This is one driving day of about 191.7 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Leland, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 103.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 187.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Village Road
Turn right onto Village Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|Mount Misery Road Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto Mount Misery Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
13.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
6
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
187.4 mi into trip|~3h 28m 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
$29.98 one way
$59.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.78
$65.56
premium
$4.70
$35.48
$70.96
diesel
$5.61
$42.32
$84.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
Efficient EV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.67
EV Truck/SUV
76.7
0
$26.84
$12.27
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Leland, NC
Late night
in Leland on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burlington, NC
Late night
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
3h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 26.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The road character on this route is predominantly highway, with 43% of the drive on interstates. You'll experience a mix of faster travel and potentially some more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 103.3 miles, primarily on Michael Jordan Highway, indicating a significant portion where you can maintain speed. Expect the drive to evolve as you transition between these different road types. This blend means you'll encounter both efficient travel segments and moments where the pace might adjust.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.3 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Village Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 191.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Misery Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Leland, NC and Burlington, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington and Raleigh.
Wilmington
13.4 mi in|~15m
Raleigh
13.7 mi in|~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 191.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. 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 Burlington, 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 0.1 miles (Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Misery Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Burlington, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
