Origin
Lucama, NC
Morning in Lucama on Sunday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lucama, NC to Raleigh, 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
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lucama, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 49.7-mile drive from Lucama, NC, to Raleigh, NC, can be completed in about 1 hour, making it an easy day trip. The journey primarily utilizes I-587 and I-87, with a small section on Radford Road, keeping you on highways for about 83% of the time. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region, staying within North Carolina for the entire trip. Given its short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for maximum flexibility.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 587 | 37.9 mi | 40m |
| Radford Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| I 87 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Quaker Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Oak Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 587
— 37.9 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lucama, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on East Oak Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Oak Street
2
Turn left onto Little Rock Church Road
414 ft
·
10 sec
·
Little Rock Church Road
3
Continue on Radford Road
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Radford Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Quaker Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Quaker Road
5
Turn sharp left onto NC 42
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
NC 42
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
7
Merge onto I 587; I 795; US 264
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 587; I 795; US 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
9
Merge onto I 40; US 64
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
12
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
13
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
16
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Lucama, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 49.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
NC 42
Turn sharp left onto NC 42
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 587; I 795; US 264
Merge onto I 587; I 795; US 264
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
5
48.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
49.5 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.20 | $18.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Raleigh, NC
Morning in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this 49.7-mile trip. With 83% of the route on highways like I-587 and I-87, it offers a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.9 miles on I-587, providing a good opportunity to settle in. While primarily highway, you'll experience a brief segment on Radford Road, offering a slight change in scenery before returning to faster-paced roads. The overall feel is efficient and direct, prioritizing getting you to your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.9 mi on I 587.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 587 and Radford Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near NC 42.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 49.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.4 miles (NC 42): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.2 miles (I 587; I 795; US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Raleigh, NC
Full guide →The capital of North Carolina and the largest city of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is the primary political and economic driver of the metro area. Indeed, business and politics are the main draws to Raleigh, which lacks the more trendy feel or active arts scene of Durham or Chapel Hill to the west. However, a concerted effort to expand the residential base and move events downtown has led to significantly expanded retail and restaurant options in the downtown core. Also, visitors will find many of the state's cultural institutions here, namely a major performing arts center downtown and three state museums, and a college town atmosphere in the neighborhood around the campus of North Carolina State University, the state's largest university.
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 1h. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.9 miles on I 587. 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 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 5.4 miles (NC 42): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.2 miles (I 587; I 795; US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at 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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