Piney Green, NC to Raleigh, NC is 124.3 miles and takes about 2h 35m via NC 24 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from the Southeast region of North Carolina to its capital city, Raleigh, also within the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip primarily focused on highway driving, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Expect a relatively quick transit with minimal complexity, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B within the state.
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
62.2 miles from Piney Green, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 24
59.8 mi
1h 4m
Catherine Lake Road
14.4 mi
21m
I 40
12.6 mi
13m
Richlands Highway
6.4 mi
9m
Jackson Store Road
6.3 mi
8m
Lejeune Boulevard
6.2 mi
9m
NC 50
5.1 mi
6m
Hallsville Road
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piney Green, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on NC 24
29 ft·2 sec·Freedom Way
2
Continue on NC 24
5.0 mi·7 min·Lejeune Boulevard
3
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 24 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Lejeune Boulevard
4
Turn slight right onto NC 24 Business
0.6 mi·56 sec·Johnson Boulevard
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Business; NC 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Marine Boulevard
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 258; NC 24 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Richlands Highway
7
Continue on US 258; NC 24
5.0 mi·7 min·Richlands Highway
8
Turn left onto NC 111
14 mi·21 min·Catherine Lake Road
9
Turn right onto SR 1800
6.3 mi·8 min·Jackson Store Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto Hallsville Road
4.4 mi·5 min·Hallsville Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto NC 50
5.1 mi·6 min·NC 50
12
Turn left onto D S Williams Road
1.0 mi·1 min·D S Williams Road
13
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
3.9 mi·5 min·South Kenansville Bypass
14
Take the exit onto NC 24
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·NC 24
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi·13 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·Rock Quarry Road
18
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Rock Quarry Road
19
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft·0 sec·East South Street
22
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 35 minute estimated drive time, this is comfortably a one-day trip. You can easily start your journey in Piney Green, NC, anytime in the morning and arrive in Raleigh with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the calculated fuel cost is around $19, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on the longest stretch of 59.8 miles on NC 24 to ensure a smooth continuation.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.2 miles from Piney Green, NC, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 27 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.2 miles or 1h 25m 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 8m
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 Piney Green, 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 Piney Green, NC
This is one driving day of about 124.3 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Piney Green, 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 NC 24 for about 59.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 49.5 and 124.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|NC 24
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
122.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
124.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.44 one way
$38.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.25
$42.51
premium
$4.70
$23.01
$46.01
diesel
$5.61
$27.44
$54.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.3
0
$13.05
$5.97
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
EV Truck/SUV
49.7
0
$17.40
$7.96
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Piney Green, NC
Late night
in Piney Green on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Late night
in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
4:02 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
28 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
2h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway-focused, with about 62% of the drive utilizing interstate speeds. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 40, but the initial leg on NC 24 provides a different driving feel before merging onto the faster highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.8 miles on NC 24, offering a good period of consistent travel before reaching the interstate. Overall, it's a drive that balances efficient highway travel with some time on state routes.
62% 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: 59.8 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and Catherine Lake Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 49.5 miles in near NC 24.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 124.3 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 49.5 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 35m. Total distance: 124.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on NC 24. 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.
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 49.5 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.9 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.
