Origin
Princeville, NC
Morning in Princeville on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Princeville, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
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.
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Princeville, NC and Raleigh, NC.
Start on US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
Take the ramp onto US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
Merge onto US 64; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
Continue on US 64 Bypass
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
Merge onto I 40; US 64
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Take the ramp onto US 64 ALT; US 258; NC 111; NC 122
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$11.37 one way
$22.74 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Princeville on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Princeville, NC or browse trips ending in Raleigh, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.