Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
South Henderson, NC
Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Raleigh, NC to South Henderson, NC covers 42.2 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Boulevard, Raleigh Road, South Wilmington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.1 miles on Capital Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.47 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Boulevard | 38.1 mi | 55m |
| Raleigh Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Wilmington Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| North McDowell Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Edenton Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Miriam Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Nicholas Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and South Henderson, NC.
Start on East South Street
Turn left onto South Wilmington Street
Turn left onto East Edenton Street
Turn right onto US 70; US 401; NC 50
Continue on US 70; US 401; NC 50
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 401
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 1 BUS
Turn right onto Miriam Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Nicholas Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 42.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 401 / Capital Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 / Capital Boulevard toward Wake Forest, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1 / Capital Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Miriam Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right onto Nicholas Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$6.47 one way
$12.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $7.10 | $14.19 |
| premium | $4.64 | $7.70 | $15.41 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.30 | $18.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Raleigh on Monday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in South Henderson on Monday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
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
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.
42.2 mi in 1h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
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 5.4 miles in near US 1; US 401 / Capital Boulevard.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.4 miles (US 1; US 401 / Capital Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 1 / Capital Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.4 miles (US 1 / Capital Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
520 ft
Total Descent
330 ft
Highest Point
504 ft
~42.2 mi in
Elevation Range
323 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Raleigh, NC and South Henderson, NC, road signs point toward Wake Forest and Henderson.
Wake Forest
Henderson
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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