Raleigh, NC to King, NC is 116 miles and takes about 2h 22m via Dan K. Moore Frwy and I-40, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route with a fair amount of turns, suggesting it's not a purely interstate experience. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it's a straightforward trip perfect for a single day, with no need for overnight stays. Plan for a drive that mixes highway speeds with more local road navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dan K. Moore Frwy
61.5 mi
1h 11m
I 40
20.3 mi
24m
Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
11.1 mi
12m
Salem Parkway
6.5 mi
7m
John Gold Memorial Expressway
4 mi
4m
Wade Avenue
3.7 mi
4m
Western Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
NC 74
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dan K. Moore Frwy
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and King, NC.
1
Start on East South Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East South Street
2
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Salisbury Street
3
Turn sharp right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.5 mi·57 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
4
Continue on Western Boulevard
2.5 mi·4 min·Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Gorman Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Gorman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Faircloth Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Faircloth Street
7
Turn left onto Wade Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·Wade Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Wade Avenue
3.3 mi·3 min·Wade Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Dan K. Moore Frwy.
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi·15 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
6.5 mi·7 min·Salem Parkway
Exit 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 227Toward NC 74 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NC 74
11 mi·12 min·Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
1.8 mi·2 min·NC 74
Toward US 52 North: Mount AiryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 52
4.0 mi·4 min·John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward King, Tobaccoville
18
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.4 mi·3 min·South Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only about 2 hours and 22 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Raleigh in the morning will get you to King with plenty of daylight left. There are no recommended stops, so you can decide on the fly if you need to stretch your legs or refuel, though the $18 fuel cost suggests you won't need to stop for gas often. Keep an eye on your GPS for the numerous turns, especially as you move off the main highways. A practical tip: download your map offline, as cell service can be spotty in some of the more rural, local road sections.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near King, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Raleigh, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dan K. Moore Frwy for about 61.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 108.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|Gorman Street
Turn right onto Gorman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in|Wade Avenue
Turn left onto Wade Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
89.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|US 421 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
7
96.5 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward NC 74 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 227
Toward NC 74 West
7
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.14 one way
$36.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.83
$39.67
premium
$4.70
$21.47
$42.94
diesel
$5.61
$25.61
$51.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Raleigh, NC
Late night
in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
King, NC
Late night
in King on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Graham, NC
58 mi in
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
5 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than a long, straight shot. With only 28% of the journey on highways, be prepared for a more involved driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch clocks in at 61.5 miles on the Dan K. Moore Frwy, offering a segment of more consistent travel. As you progress, the road will transition from faster-paced highway sections to more winding, local roads, requiring your attention to navigation and speed adjustments.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on Dan K. Moore Frwy.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Gorman Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 116 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 3.3 miles (Gorman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (Wade Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 89.9 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 22m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on Dan K. Moore Frwy. 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 King, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (Gorman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (Wade Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 89.9 miles (US 421 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at King, NC before heading back.
