Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
60.8 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Vander, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh to Vander is 60.8 miles and takes about 1h 15m via I-95, I-40, and Thomas Bradshaw Freeway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a primarily highway experience, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive. It's a short enough distance to be completed in a single day, ideal for a quick trip or connecting to another destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| I 40 | 16.5 mi | 17m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Rock Hill Road | 3.3 mi | 8m |
| Dunn Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Hammond Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Blount Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 95 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,818 veh/hr typical · worst 2,227
Quietest
2 AM
~134 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, NC and Vander, NC.
Start on East South Street
Turn right onto South Blount Street
Continue on Hammond Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 Business
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 301
Turn left onto Rock Hill Road
Turn right onto Clinton Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.4 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 1.6 and 56 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway toward I 40 East: Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 Business toward I 95 Business South, US 301: Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope AFB
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.98 one way
$17.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $9.86 | $19.73 |
| premium | $4.49 | $10.75 | $21.51 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Raleigh on Monday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Vander on Monday
Local time
9:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
86°F
Benson, NC
30 mi in
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 86% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 25.3 miles on I-95 without many exits. The transition to surface roads will occur closer to your destination, offering a change from sustained highway cruising. Expect merging traffic and numerous exits as you approach urban and suburban areas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 40; US 64 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 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 40 / Thomas Bradshaw Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
155 ft
Total Descent
344 ft
Highest Point
326 ft
~8.7 mi in
Elevation Range
211 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Raleigh, NC and Vander, NC, road signs point toward Wilmington, Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Pope Afb.
Wilmington
Fayetteville
Fort Bragg
Pope Afb
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 15m. Total distance: 60.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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