Skip to main content

Trip from Princeville, NC to Raleigh, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 22m

Distance

72.7 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 16m ★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Princeville, NC, NC

Princeville, NC

Mark Stebnicki

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 72.7-mile drive from Princeville to Raleigh, North Carolina, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 96% of it on major roads like US 64 Bypass, US 64, and I-87. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this trip is quite economical for a single day’s journey. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region, staying within North Carolina for the entire duration. This drive is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without many detours.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 64 Bypass 38.9 mi 41m
US 64 27.9 mi 30m
I 87 2.7 mi 3m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard 1.2 mi 2m
Rock Quarry Road 0.7 mi 1m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway 0.4 mi <1m
US 64 ALT 0.2 mi <1m
South Wilmington Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 64 Bypass — 38.9 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeville, NC and Raleigh, NC.

1

Start on US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Mutual Boulevard
2

Take the ramp onto US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122

0.2 mi · 26 sec · US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
3

Merge onto US 64; US 258; NC 111; NC 122

28 mi · 30 min · US 64; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
4

Continue on US 64 Bypass

39 mi · 41 min · US 64 Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64

2.7 mi · 3 min · I 87; I 440; US 64
6

Merge onto I 40; US 64

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Rock Quarry Road
9

Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Rock Quarry Road
10

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn left onto East South Street

24 ft · 0 sec · East South Street
13

Arrive at destination

East South Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Zebulon, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Zebulon, NC

36 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.

Popular next leg

Zebulon, NC to Raleigh, NC

23.3 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Rocky Mount, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nashville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Princeville, 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 72.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122

Take the ramp onto US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122

Navigation decision point

6
70.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
72.5 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | South Wilmington Street

Turn right onto South Wilmington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
72.7 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | East South Street

Turn left onto East South Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.37 one way

$22.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $12.43 $24.86
premium $4.70 $13.46 $26.91
diesel $5.61 $16.05 $32.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.8 0 $7.63 $3.49
Efficient EV 18.2 0 $6.36 $2.91
EV Truck/SUV 29.1 0 $10.18 $4.65

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Princeville, NC

Morning in Princeville on Sunday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raleigh, NC

Morning in Raleigh on Sunday

Local time

7:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

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

2 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

1h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 72.7-mile journey. With 96% of the drive utilizing major roadways, you'll find yourself on fast-paced routes like the US 64 Bypass, US 64, and I-87. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.9 miles on the US 64 Bypass, offering a good period of consistent travel. This road character suggests a drive where efficiency is key, with minimal interruptions from local traffic or scenic slowdowns. It’s a route designed for covering ground quickly.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.9 mi on US 64 Bypass.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 Bypass and US 64. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122): Navigation decision point; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

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 1h 22m. Total distance: 72.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.9 miles on US 64 Bypass. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 (US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122): Navigation decision point; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Princeville, NC or browse trips ending in Raleigh, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.