Lumberton, NC to Raleigh, NC is 93.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m via I 95 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $15 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. Expect a drive that is almost entirely on major highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in one day, offering flexibility for when you depart.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Lumberton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
61.5 mi
1h 9m
I 40
26.7 mi
29m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Carthage Road
1.1 mi
1m
Rock Quarry Road
0.7 mi
1m
North Water Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Capuano Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lumberton, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on North Water Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Water Street
2
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
219 ft·3 sec·North Water Street
3
Continue on North Water Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Water Street
4
Turn straight onto Carthage Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Carthage Road
5
Turn right onto Capuano Street
152 ft·6 sec·Capuano Street
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
7
Merge onto I 95; US 301
62 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 95; US 301
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 40: Raleigh, WilmingtonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 West: Raleigh
10
Merge onto I 40
14 mi·15 min·I 40
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi·13 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·Rock Quarry Road
14
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Rock Quarry Road
15
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft·0 sec·East South Street
18
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 50-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave Lumberton mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and give yourself ample daylight. You won't need many stops, but keep an eye out for services along I 95 and I 40 as they are the main arteries. The fuel cost is estimated at just $15, so a quick top-off before you leave Lumberton should suffice for the entire 93.5-mile journey to Raleigh.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Lumberton, NC, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lumberton, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lumberton, NC
This is one driving day of about 93.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lumberton, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 61.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 93.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Water Street
Enter roundabout onto North Water Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
63.2 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington
6
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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.
6
91 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
6
93.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.62 one way
$29.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.99
$31.97
premium
$4.70
$17.30
$34.61
diesel
$5.61
$20.64
$41.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.98
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lumberton, NC
Late night
in Lumberton on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
W 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 17 at 11:32AM EDT until April 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Late night
in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
40 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
1h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive on major interstates. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 61.5 miles on I 95, which sets the tone for much of the journey. The character of the drive is primarily that of efficient travel, designed for covering distance quickly rather than for scenic exploration. As you transition to I 40, the highway focus continues, ensuring a consistent driving experience throughout the 1 hour and 50-minute trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Water Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.5 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 0.2 miles (North Water Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 63.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Lumberton, NC to Raleigh, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 93.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on I 95. 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 0.2 miles (North Water Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 63.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
