Maine, NC to Manteo, NC is 313.5 miles and takes about 6h 13m via I 40 and US 64 East, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its duration and highway profile, this drive is best suited for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a straightforward transit. Plan for a direct trip with minimal scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
156.8 miles from Maine, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
114.1 mi
2h 12m
US 64
102.3 mi
1h 57m
United States Highway 64 East
40.5 mi
49m
US 64 ALT
20.2 mi
28m
I 87
16.8 mi
17m
I 440
9.2 mi
11m
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi
3m
U.S. Highway 64 East
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 114.1 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Manteo, NC.
1
Start on Oak Grove Church Road
48 ft·3 sec·Oak Grove Church Road
2
Turn right onto US 158
1.8 mi·2 min·US 158
3
Turn left onto US 158
200 ft·5 sec·US 158
4
Turn straight onto Farmington Road
0.3 mi·36 sec·Farmington Road
5
Enter roundabout
64 ft·2 sec
6
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
37 mi·42 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi·9 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, MartinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi·2 min·I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·42 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
30 mi·34 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: RaleighUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi·3 min·Wade Avenue
Exit 289Toward Wade AvenueUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
14
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi·11 min·I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi·17 min·I 87; US 64; US 264
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
80 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 64
18
Turn right onto US 64 ALT
20 mi·28 min·US 64 ALT
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 64; NC 32
1.0 mi·1 min·United States Highway 64 East
20
Continue on US 64; NC 32
2.3 mi·3 min·U.S. Highway 64 East
21
Continue on US 64
40 mi·47 min·United States Highway 64 East
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
23 mi·30 min·US 64
23
Turn left onto US 64
1.5 mi·3 min·S US Highway 64
24
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of just over 6 hours, leaving in the morning is your best bet to avoid arriving too late. You'll only need one stop for fuel and a break, so consider stopping around the halfway point of your longest stretch on I 40. The fuel cost is estimated at $52, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Maine. Because you're staying within NC, you won't need to worry about state-specific road regulations, but always keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the Outer Banks area.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.8 miles from Maine, NC, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.1 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 69 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.8 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manteo, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maine, 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 Maine, NC
This is one driving day of about 313.5 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Maine, 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 I 40 for about 114.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.8 and 129.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
39.8 mi into trip|~46m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
6
49.3 mi into trip|~58m 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.
7
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
129.2 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
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 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.86 one way
$99.73 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$54.37
$108.74
premium
$4.78
$58.98
$117.97
diesel
$5.35
$66.03
$132.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.1
1
$32.92
$15.05
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.43
$12.54
EV Truck/SUV
125.4
1
$43.89
$20.06
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 1, 2026
Origin
Maine, NC
Afternoon
in Maine on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Manteo, NC
Afternoon
in Manteo on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 10 mph4% chanceLive 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
4 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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
National Memorial
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane fli...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
$10
near mile 313.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 98% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for nearly the entire trip. The longest stretch without an exit is 114.1 miles on I 40. United States Highway 64 East begins to transition you off the interstate closer to your destination, offering a change from the concentrated exits found on I 40. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of your travel time.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.8 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 313.5 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 39.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
932 ft0 ft
Total Climb
151 ft
Total Descent
941 ft
Highest Point
932 ft
~22.4 mi in
Elevation Range
932 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maine, NC and Manteo, NC, road signs point toward Martinsville, Wilson and Greenville.
Manteo is a town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Much of the fun in visiting Manteo, as with most of the Outer Banks, is visiting during the summer. Some of Manteo's staples run all year round, such as the Christmas Shop, but some of the attractions are seasonal, such as the Lost Colony performances. Manteo also provides some nice shopping and dining opportunities for those who are in other areas of the Outer Banks, such as neighboring Nags Head.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 313.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Manteo, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wright Brothers National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Manteo, NC before the return drive.
