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Trip from Raleigh, NC to Rocky Mount, NC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

58.6 mi

94 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m

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

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

Raleigh, NC

Wikimedia Commons

city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plain region North Carolina, United States

Rocky Mount, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion through North Carolina’s Southeast region, the 58.6-mile trip from Raleigh to Rocky Mount is a straightforward commute. You can easily complete this journey in about 56 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the route is highly economical for travelers looking to move between these two cities without breaking the bank. Because the transit time is under an hour, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip accommodations. Navigating this path requires a focus on local roads rather than major interstates, providing a direct connection between your starting point and destination.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 64 33.3 mi 36m
I 87 20 mi 21m
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway 2.2 mi 2m
Atlantic Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Hammond Road 0.7 mi 1m
South Blount Street 0.6 mi 1m
Tarboro Street 0.2 mi <1m
East South Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 64 — 33.3 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East South Street

506 ft · 21 sec · East South Street
2

Turn right onto South Blount Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Blount Street
3

Continue on Hammond Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hammond Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
5

Merge onto I 40; US 64

2.2 mi · 2 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 87; I 440; US 64
Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64

17 mi · 18 min · I 87; US 64
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 64

33 mi · 36 min · US 64
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
10

Turn left onto NC 97

1.2 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto US 64 BUS

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Tarboro Street
12

Turn slight right onto Cokey Road

223 ft · 5 sec · Cokey Road
13

Arrive at destination

Cokey Road

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Zebulon, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Zebulon, NC

29 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

Knightdale, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Zebulon, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Raleigh, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 23.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Blount Street

Turn right onto South Blount Street

Navigation decision point

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 87; I 440; US 64

Keep slight left at fork onto I 87; I 440; US 64 toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rock...
8
6.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 87; US 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87; US 64 toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
4
23.7 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 64

Keep slight left at fork onto US 64

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.16 one way

$18.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.02 $20.04
premium $4.70 $10.85 $21.69
diesel $5.61 $12.94 $25.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.15 $2.81
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.13 $2.34
EV Truck/SUV 23.4 0 $8.20 $3.75

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Raleigh, NC

Morning in Raleigh on Tuesday

Local time

10:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rocky Mount, NC

Morning in Rocky Mount on Tuesday

Local time

10:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

1 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

1h 7m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route relies entirely on surface streets. You will navigate through local thoroughfares like South Blount Street, Hammond Road, and the Thomas Bradshaw Freeway to reach your destination. Because there is no highway share on this path, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and intersection management. This drive offers a consistent, hands-on experience behind the wheel, requiring you to stay alert through various turns rather than settling into a monotonous highway rhythm. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that favors local connectivity over long, uninterrupted stretches of open road.

95% 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: 33.3 mi on US 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Blount Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (South Blount Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Raleigh, NC and Rocky Mount, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.

Wilson

6.5 mi in | ~9m | via I 87; US 64

Greenville

6.5 mi in | ~9m | via I 87; US 64

About the Cities

Starting in Raleigh, NC

Full guide →

Founded 1770

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.

Top landmarks

  • North Carolina Museum of Art — state art museum in Raleigh, North Carolina
  • North Carolina State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of North Carolina
  • Dorton Arena — arena in Raleigh, North Carolina

Arriving in Rocky Mount, NC

Full guide →

Founded 1816

Rocky Mount is a city in North Carolina. Its dawning days were more or less centered around cotton mills in the early 19th century, though it was settled as early as the 1700s by Europeans. Eventually tobacco became the prized crop and warehouses and rail stations sprung up to export this commodity. Rocky Mount, though with a reputation tarnished somewhat by crime and urban decay, is the birthplace of Mike Tyson and Hardee's fast food restaurants and where Jim Thorpe debuted with the Rocky Mountain Railroaders and Jack Kerouac wrote parts of "The Dharma Bums" during his visits there.

Top landmarks

  • Rocky Mount Mills — Historic property in Rocky Mount, North Carolina

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 7m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 33.3 miles on US 64. 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 Rocky Mount, 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 0.1 miles (South Blount Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 87; I 440; US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rocky Mount, 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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