Long Beach, NC to West Raleigh, NC is 165.9 miles and takes about 3h 13m via Michael Jordan Highway and I-40, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll find this route involves a good amount of local road driving mixed with interstate segments. It's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single-day drive with a manageable duration and cost.
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
82.9 miles from Long Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
103.3 mi
1h 50m
I 140
19.7 mi
22m
I 40
14.7 mi
16m
Ocean Highway East
8 mi
10m
Midway Road Southeast
6.5 mi
8m
North Middleton Street
4.1 mi
5m
East Oak Island Drive
2.6 mi
4m
Western Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, NC and West Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on East Beach Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Beach Drive
2
Turn right onto Southeast 43rd Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·Southeast 43rd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Oak Island Drive
2.6 mi·4 min·East Oak Island Drive
4
Turn right onto NC 906
4.1 mi·5 min·North Middleton Street
5
Continue on NC 906
6.5 mi·8 min·Midway Road Southeast
6
Turn right onto US 17 Business; NC 906
0.5 mi·41 sec·Old Ocean Highway
7
Continue on US 17 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 17 Business
0.3 mi·35 sec·Old Ocean Highway
9
Turn right onto US 17
8.0 mi·10 min·Ocean Highway East
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto I 140
20 mi·22 min·I 140
Exit 39Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New BernUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 West: Benson, Raleigh
13
Merge onto I 40
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Michael Jordan Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
15 mi·16 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 298BToward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh DowntownUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 70; US 401; NC 50
0.9 mi·1 min·South Saunders Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Western Boulevard
18
Turn straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
19
Continue on Western Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn slight right
429 ft·10 sec
Toward Pullen Road
21
Turn right onto Pullen Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Pullen Road
22
Enter roundabout onto Pullen Road
63 ft·2 sec·Pullen Road
23
Continue on Pullen Road
0.1 mi·25 sec·Pullen Road
24
Enter roundabout onto Hillsborough Street
205 ft·6 sec·Hillsborough Street
25
Continue on Hillsborough Street
503 ft·14 sec·Hillsborough Street
26
Turn right onto Enterprise Street
44 ft·1 sec·Enterprise Street
27
Arrive at destination
Enterprise Street
Trip Plan
Given the total duration of just over 3 hours, this is a comfortable same-day trip. Departing in the morning should give you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $26, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before heading onto longer stretches of local roads where services might be less frequent. A good time to leave would be mid-morning to avoid the worst of any potential commuter traffic around the Raleigh area.
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 82.9 miles from Long Beach, NC, or about 1h 40m 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 36 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.9 miles or 1h 40m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 165.9 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Long Beach, 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 162.2 — 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|Southeast 43rd Street
Turn right onto Southeast 43rd Street
Navigation decision point
8
23.2 mi into trip|~34m in|I 140
Take the exit onto I 140 toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern
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 39
Toward I 140: Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New...
6
43.2 mi into trip|~57m 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
147.4 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
162.2 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 298B
Toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.94 one way
$51.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.37
$56.73
premium
$4.70
$30.70
$61.41
diesel
$5.61
$36.63
$73.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.8
0
$17.42
$7.96
Efficient EV
41.5
0
$14.52
$6.64
EV Truck/SUV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Jun 21, 2022
Origin
Long Beach, NC
Morning
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Raleigh, NC
Morning
in West Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
24 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 13m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 79% of this drive is on local roads, with the interstate making up the remaining 21%. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 103.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. Expect frequent exits and merges as you transition between local streets and the highway system. The shift from surface roads to the interstate, and back again, will be a noticeable part of the driving experience.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Southeast 43rd Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 165.9 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 0.1 miles (Southeast 43rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.2 miles (I 140): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 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 Long Beach, NC and West Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Jacksonville, New Bern, Wilmington and Raleigh.
Jacksonville
23.2 mi in|~34m|via I 140
New Bern
23.2 mi in|~34m|via I 140
Wilmington
42.9 mi in|~56m
Raleigh
43.2 mi in|~57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 165.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 West Raleigh, 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 (Southeast 43rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.2 miles (I 140): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at West Raleigh, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
