Origin
Maine, NC
Evening in Maine on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maine, NC to Rose Hill, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
201.6 mi
324 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 8m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maine, NC
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Maine, NC to Rose Hill, NC covers 201.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, US 421, US 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
100.8 miles from Maine, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 94.8 mi | 1h 44m |
| US 421 | 38.8 mi | 46m |
| US 64 | 32 mi | 42m |
| Triangle Expressway | 22 mi | 23m |
| US 117 | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| US 158 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Farmington Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oak Grove Church Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,087 veh/hr typical · worst 2,577
Quietest
2 AM
~123 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maine, NC and Rose Hill, 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 left at fork onto US 421
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 421
Toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 421
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 421
Exit 126
Toward US 421: Sanford
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
26 mi
·
32 min
·
US 421
Exit 126A
Toward US 421 South: Sanford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto US 64
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 64
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
21 mi
·
27 min
·
US 64
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll South
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Triangle Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Wilmington
17
Merge onto I 40
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 40
18
Keep slight right at fork
1.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 40
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 117: Warsaw
21
Turn left onto US 117
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 117
22
Arrive at destination
3 ft
·
US 117
Trip Plan
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 100.8 miles from Maine, NC, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 2h 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 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rose Hill, 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 201.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 94.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from Maine, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.8 miles.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 39.8 and 134.6 — 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
|
US 421
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421 toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durh...
7
52 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 421
Take the exit onto US 421 toward US 421: Sanford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 126
Toward US 421: Sanford
8
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
US 421
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 toward US 421 South: Sanford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 126A
Toward US 421 South: Sanford
8
78.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 171
Toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
8
134.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.89 one way
$61.78 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $33.90 | $67.80 |
| premium | $4.64 | $36.80 | $73.61 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $44.44 | $88.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.17 | $9.68 |
| Efficient EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.64 | $8.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.6 | 1 | $28.22 | $12.90 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Rose Hill, NC
Evening in Rose Hill on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m 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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 201.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
201.6 mi in 3h 57m, mostly highway — 94.8 mi of that is on I 40.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 421. 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 US 421.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 201.6 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 (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
937 ft
98 ft
Total Climb
261 ft
Total Descent
960 ft
Highest Point
937 ft
~28.8 mi in
Elevation Range
840 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Rose Hill, NC, road signs point toward Durham, Pittsboro and Wilmington.
Durham
39.8 mi in
|
~46m
|
via US 421
Pittsboro
78.6 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Wilmington
136.4 mi in
|
~2h 43m
|
via I 40
About the Cities
Starting in Maine, NC
Full guide →Arriving in Rose Hill, NC
Full guide →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 3h 57m. Total distance: 201.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.8 miles on I 40. 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 Rose Hill, 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 39.8 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52 miles (US 421): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.3 miles (US 421): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Rose Hill, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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