This straightforward 89.4-mile drive from Wallace to Raleigh, North Carolina, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 96% of the journey on major roads, primarily I-40. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this is an economical option for covering the distance. Given its efficiency and moderate length, you can comfortably complete this drive without needing an overnight stop. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from Wallace, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
83.2 mi
1h 29m
NC 11
2.3 mi
4m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
East Southerland Street
1 mi
2m
Rock Quarry Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North College Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East South Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 83.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wallace, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on North College Street
254 ft·15 sec·North College Street
2
Turn right onto East Southerland Street
1.0 mi·2 min·East Southerland Street
3
Turn left onto NC 11
2.3 mi·4 min·NC 11
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
71 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 40
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
13 mi·13 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Rock Quarry Rd NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto Rock Quarry Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·Rock Quarry Road
9
Turn left onto Rock Quarry Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Rock Quarry Road
10
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Wilmington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto East South Street
24 ft·0 sec·East South Street
13
Arrive at destination
East South Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 43-minute duration and the 89.4-mile distance, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip to Raleigh from Wallace. Leaving in the morning will get you there well before lunch, or an afternoon departure allows for a leisurely start. The longest stretch on I-40 means you can easily cover large distances without stopping for fuel, but it's wise to top off your tank before leaving Wallace to ensure a smooth journey. Since there are no mandated stops, you can decide based on your own needs for breaks or refreshments.
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 44.7 miles from Wallace, NC, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.2 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 51m 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 25m
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 Wallace, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wallace, NC
This is one driving day of about 89.4 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Wallace, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 83.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 74.3 and 89.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.98 one way
$27.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.29
$30.57
premium
$4.70
$16.55
$33.09
diesel
$5.61
$19.74
$39.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.82
$3.58
EV Truck/SUV
35.8
0
$12.52
$5.72
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Wallace, NC
Late night
in Wallace on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Raleigh, NC
Late night
in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Strickland Crossroads, NC
45 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
1h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 89.4-mile trip, as 96% of it utilizes major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 83.2 miles on I-40, indicating long periods of consistent driving. You'll also navigate segments of NC 11 and Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, which will offer a slight change of pace from the interstate. This profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is generally easy, with minimal need for complex navigation on smaller local roads.
96% 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: 83.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 11. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 74.3 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort5/10
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 89.4 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 74.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 89.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 74.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.9 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): 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.
