Origin
Wilson, NC
Late night in Wilson on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilson, NC to Durham, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
65.4 mi
105 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilson, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 65.4-mile drive from Wilson to Durham, North Carolina, will take approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on US 264 and the Northern Wake Expressway, with a highway share of 76%, indicating a generally efficient journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, which is quite budget-friendly for this distance. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward route, no overnight stops are necessary. This is a convenient option for connecting two points within the Southeast region of North Carolina without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 264 | 23 mi | 24m |
| Northern Wake Expressway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Raleigh Road Parkway West | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| Durham Freeway | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| T.W. Alexander Drive | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Buffaloe Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Rolesville Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Glenwood Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 264
— 23 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilson, NC and Durham, 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
23 mi
·
24 min
·
US 264
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
7
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
8
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Rolesville Road
9
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Marks Creek Road
10
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Horton Road
11
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
13
Merge onto I 540
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 70 West: Durham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Glenwood Avenue
16
Turn left onto T.W. Alexander Drive
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
T.W. Alexander Drive
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 885 North: Durham
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 885
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Durham Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Durham Freeway
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on Jackie Robinson Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Jackie Robinson Drive
22
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Roxboro Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto East Main Street
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 31 and 65.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
31 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
6
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 70 West: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 70 West: Durham
8
62.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
NC 147 / Durham Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 147 / Durham Freeway toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 9
Toward NC 147 North: Durham Downtown
7
64.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jackie Robinson Drive, Roxboro Street
7
65.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Turn right onto US 15 Business; US 501 Business / South Roxboro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.23 one way
$20.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.18 | $22.36 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.10 | $24.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.44 | $28.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Durham, NC
Late night in Durham on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 24m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 1 hour and 24 minute drive. With 76% of the route on highways, you'll encounter stretches designed for consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 23 miles on US 264, allowing for a good rhythm. While primarily highway, the inclusion of roads like Raleigh Road Parkway West suggests some transitions as you approach your destination. This drive offers a practical, no-frills connection between Wilson and Durham.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on US 264.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 264 and Northern Wake Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.4 miles you will encounter 18 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 31 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Wilson, NC
Full guide →Wilson is a city in North Carolina that is home to a diverse collection of historic homes in its center city along beautiful tree-lined streets. Some say it has North Carolina's finest collection of bungalows. Wilson's arts scene is growing and is home to the Theater of the American South.
Arriving in Durham, NC
Full guide →Of the three cities that make up North Carolina's Research Triangle, Durham has traditionally been the one with the grittier, more working-class image. A city of just over 300,000 residents in 2026, Durham has moved beyond a "tobacco town" with a prestigious university at its center to become a regionally and nationally recognized symbol of urban renewal, gentrification, technology and diversity. Durham's vibrant African-American community was historically pioneering in United States Black culture, from the arts to finance. These days, the tobacco warehouses and textile mills have been converted to other uses, as Durham has taken on a much more high-profile (and expensive) identity. Thanks to local anchor Duke University, a thriving, research-driven medical and tech industry has taken root.
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 1h 24m. Total distance: 65.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 miles on US 264. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Durham, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 31 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (NC 147 / Durham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Durham, 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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