Origin
Richlands, NC
Late night in Richlands on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richlands, NC to Raleigh, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
104.1 mi
167 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richlands, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 104.1-mile drive from Richlands, NC, to Raleigh, NC, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 6 minutes. With 70% of the journey on highways, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $16, making it an economical option for getting between these two North Carolina locations. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire duration of your journey. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Richlands, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 24 | 59.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Beulaville Highway | 20.8 mi | 29m |
| I 40 | 12.6 mi | 13m |
| South Kenansville Bypass | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Richlands Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Franck Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NC 24
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on South Wilmington Street
189 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
2
Turn right onto West Franck Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Franck Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 258; NC 24
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Richlands Highway
4
Continue on US 258; NC 24
21 mi
·
29 min
·
Beulaville Highway
5
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
South Kenansville Bypass
6
Take the exit onto NC 24
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
NC 24
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
10
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rock Quarry Road
11
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
East South Street
14
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration, this route offers flexibility; you can leave whenever is most convenient for you. With only 104.1 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but it's always wise to take a break during your longest stretch on NC 24. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $16, and plan your refueling accordingly before hitting the highway sections. A good tip is to make sure your vehicle is topped off before departing Richlands to maximize your time on the road.
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 52 miles from Richlands, NC, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 6m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raleigh, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richlands, 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 Richlands, NC
This is one driving day of about 104.1 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Richlands, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NC 24 for about 59.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52 miles from Richlands, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 29.2 and 103.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
NC 24
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
89.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
101.6 mi into trip
|
~2h in
Take the exit toward Rock Quarry Rd North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Rock Quarry Rd North
5
102.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
103.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.28 one way
$32.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.80 | $35.60 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.27 | $38.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.98 | $45.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.11 | $4.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.57 | $6.66 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Late night in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mount Olive, NC
52 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 6m 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 drive that's predominantly on highways, making up 70% of the total mileage. You'll spend a good amount of time on NC 24, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 59.8 miles. The route is characterized by its highway-focused profile, meaning you'll likely experience consistent speeds for much of the trip. As you progress from Richlands towards Raleigh, the landscape will transition, but the primary mode of travel remains on these faster-moving roads.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on NC 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 24 and Beulaville Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in near NC 24.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Raleigh, NC
Full guide →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.
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 2h 6m. Total distance: 104.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on NC 24. 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 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Raleigh, 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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