Origin
Wilson, NC
Morning in Wilson on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilson, 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
59m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Wilson to Raleigh, you can expect a quick 47.4-mile trek that typically takes about 59 minutes to complete. This straightforward trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it requires no overnight stops to manage the distance. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a very economical route for a quick change of scenery. You will be traveling entirely within the Southeast region of North Carolina, moving from Wilson toward the state capital. Because the drive is so efficient, it offers excellent flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or a brief visit. You won't need to overthink the logistics for this simple, short-haul transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 264 | 34 mi | 36m |
| Raleigh Road Parkway West | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| I 87 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hines Street West | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Rock Quarry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Wilmington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 264
— 34 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilson, NC and Raleigh, NC.
1
Start on Hines Street South
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Hines Street South
2
Continue on Hines Street West
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hines Street West
3
Continue on Raleigh Road Parkway West
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Raleigh Road Parkway West
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto US 264
34 mi
·
36 min
·
US 264
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 87; I 440; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 87; I 440; US 64
7
Merge onto I 40; US 64
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Wilson, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 264
Merge onto US 264
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
44.9 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
46 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
South Wilmington Street
Turn right onto South Wilmington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
47.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.77 | $17.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Morning in Raleigh on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
59m 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 very efficient, highway-focused experience with 92% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. Your trip relies primarily on US 264, Raleigh Road Parkway West, and I-87 to move you between cities. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 34-mile segment on US 264, which allows you to maintain a steady pace for the majority of the trip. The road feels functional and direct, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. You will find that the transitions between these thoroughfares are seamless, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination without the need for complex navigation.
92% 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: 34 mi on US 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 264 and Raleigh Road Parkway West. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in near US 264.
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 47.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 7.8 miles (US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
316 ft
109 ft
Total Climb
384 ft
Total Descent
179 ft
Highest Point
316 ft
~23.7 mi in
Elevation Range
207 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wilson, NC to Raleigh, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Quarry Rd North along the way.
Rock Quarry Rd North
44.9 mi in
|
~53m
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 59m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34 miles on US 264. 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 7.8 miles (US 264): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Raleigh, NC
More trips to Raleigh, NC
Explore more options from Wilson, NC or browse trips ending in Raleigh, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.