Origin
Pittsboro, NC
Late night in Pittsboro on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pittsboro, NC to Raleigh, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
32.3 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsboro, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Pittsboro to Raleigh, you are looking at a straightforward 33.2-mile trek through the heart of North Carolina. This journey typically takes about 38 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is a highly economical route for those traveling within the Southeast region. You will navigate primarily via East Street, US 1 North, and Claude E. Given the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple stops. This drive serves as a practical connection between two distinct community hubs, offering a reliable path for your daily commute or a spontaneous visit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 64 BUS | 19.5 mi | 27m |
| Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Western Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| East Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 64 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Wilmington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 64 BUS
— 19.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsboro, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on US 64 BUS
166 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 64 BUS
2
Continue on US 64 BUS
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 BUS
19 mi
·
27 min
·
US 64 BUS
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 64
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 64
Exit 404B
Toward US 1 North, US 64 East: Raleigh
5
Merge onto US 1; US 64
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
446 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
8
Turn straight onto Western Boulevard
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Western Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
10
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
11
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
12
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Pittsboro, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 28.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 64 BUS
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 BUS
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
22.2 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 1 North, US 64 East: Raleigh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 404B
Toward US 1 North, US 64 East: Raleigh
5
22.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 1; US 64 / Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 1; US 64 / Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
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 Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
6
28.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.05 one way
$10.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.52 | $11.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.98 | $11.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Late night in Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph
2% chance
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
15 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
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route features 0% highway driving, you will spend the entire 33.2 miles navigating local road conditions. This lack of high-speed highway stretches means your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and the winding nature of the roads. You won't find any long, uninterrupted highway segments here, so be prepared for a series of turns as you transition between East Street and the rest of the path. It is a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention throughout the 38-minute transit.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on US 64 BUS.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 BUS and Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near US 64 BUS.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 32.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (US 64 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (US 1; US 64 / Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pittsboro, NC and Raleigh, NC, road signs point toward Western Boulevard: Nc State Univ and Cary.
Western Boulevard: Nc State Univ
28.1 mi in
|
~39m
Cary
28.1 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Starting in Pittsboro, NC
Full guide →Pittsboro is a town of 4,300 people (2018) near the Haw River in the Research Triangle in North Carolina. The county seat of Chatham County, Pittsboro has a big cat sanctuary as well as a historic district centered around the 19th-century courthouse.
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 47m. Total distance: 32.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on US 64 BUS. 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 2.7 miles (US 64 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (US 1; US 64 / Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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