Raleigh, NC to Stanfield, NC is 125 miles and takes about 2 hours 50 minutes via McReynolds Street and I 440, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. The drive offers a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making it a manageable trip for a single day. You'll encounter about half of the route on the interstate, with the remainder on local roads. Consider this a straightforward drive with no need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Raleigh, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McReynolds Street
42.2 mi
59m
I 440
42 mi
48m
NC 24
16.9 mi
25m
White Hill Road
10.7 mi
14m
Albemarle Road
5.7 mi
7m
Western Boulevard
3.3 mi
5m
Monroe Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Central Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
McReynolds Street
— 42.2 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Stanfield, 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
3.3 mi·5 min·Western Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
6
Merge onto I 440; US 1
42 mi·48 min·I 440; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn slight right onto US 15; US 501
11 mi·14 min·White Hill Road
8
Continue on NC 24; NC 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Monroe Street
9
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
336 ft·6 sec·McReynolds Street
10
Continue on NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
42 mi·59 min·McReynolds Street
11
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
5.4 mi·6 min·Albemarle Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
114 ft·1 sec·Albemarle Road
13
Continue on NC-24; NC-27; NC-73
0.3 mi·36 sec·Albemarle Road
14
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
17 mi·25 min·NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto NC 200
0.8 mi·1 min·South Central Avenue
16
Continue on NC 200
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
17
Turn right onto North Love Chapel Road
0.4 mi·57 sec·North Love Chapel Road
18
Turn right onto West Stanly Street
5 ft·0 sec·West Stanly Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Stanly Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 50 minute duration, starting your drive anytime in the morning should allow ample time to reach Stanfield, NC before evening. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in pacing. The route's mixed highway and surface profile means you might want to fill up on fuel before you hit the longer surface road stretches, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $19. Pay attention to the transition points between I 440 and NC 24, as this is where the driving environment will change significantly. This short drive allows for spontaneous detours if time permits.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.5 miles from Raleigh, NC, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stanfield, 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 125 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Raleigh, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on McReynolds Street for about 42.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 106.2 — 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 Salisbury Street
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 440; US 1
Merge onto I 440; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Enter roundabout onto NC-24; NC-27; NC-73 / Albemarle Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
106.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 27; NC 73
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.88 one way
$39.76 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$21.68
$43.36
premium
$4.78
$23.52
$47.04
diesel
$5.35
$26.33
$52.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Raleigh, NC
Evening
in Raleigh on Wednesday
Local time
5:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 3 to 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Stanfield, NC
Evening
in Stanfield on Wednesday
Local time
5:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 7:30PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
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
2h 50m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 47% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 42.2 miles on McReynolds Street, so expect a significant period of non-highway driving. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for transitions between faster interstate speeds and more typical surface road speeds with local traffic. You'll notice the change in environment as you move from faster-paced highway sections to more localized surface roads.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on McReynolds Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Salisbury Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Salisbury Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 440; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
606 ft198 ft
Total Climb
876 ft
Total Descent
584 ft
Highest Point
606 ft
~125 mi in
Elevation Range
408 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
The longest stretch is about 42.2 miles on McReynolds Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Salisbury Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 440; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (NC 22; NC 24; NC 27 / McReynolds Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stanfield, NC before heading back.
