How far is Apex, NC from Raleigh, NC?

The driving distance from Apex, NC to Raleigh, NC is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
14.75 mi
00h 18m
Flight
12.18 mi
19.6 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Apex.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.18 mi
Kilometers
19.6 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.75 mi
Kilometers
23.73 km
Drive Time
00h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Raleigh
Sat, May 2, 10:54 PM EDT
Return by in Apex
Sat, May 2, 11:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Apex
2026-05-02T22:36
Arrive Raleigh
Sat, May 2, 10:54 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:19 AM to 7:19 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Apex
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cary
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Apex
6.9 mi
00h 09m
To Raleigh
7.8 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
63°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Apex and Raleigh.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Apex and Raleigh.

  1. 1

    Start on North Salem Street

    16 m · 10 sec · North Salem Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Center Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Center Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Ten Ten Road

    948 ft · 20 sec · Ten Ten Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward US 1 North: Raleigh

    1243 ft · 34 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary

    1683 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary

    136 m · 10 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Western Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Western Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

    2789 ft · 1 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

  10. 10

    Turn left onto South Wilmington Street

    1048 ft · 43 sec · South Wilmington Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East South Street

    7 m · 1 sec · East South Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East South Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Apex and Raleigh.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
81.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway
7.48 mi · 51%
Western Boulevard
3.54 mi · 24%
Center Street
1.64 mi · 11%
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
0.53 mi · 4%
US 1 North
0.24 mi · 2%
South Wilmington Street
0.2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway

7.48 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 18m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
12.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cary
00h 09m from Apex
Leave By
7:52 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Apex and Rain Showers Likely near Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Apex to Raleigh?

The road trip is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km) and usually takes 00h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cary is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.9 miles from Apex and 7.8 miles from Raleigh.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.06 one way or $4.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Apex and Rain Showers Likely near Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Cary

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Cary and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 7.3 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 8 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Practical stop 6.2 mi away

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall

Morrisville , NC
101 Morrisville Square Way Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
Rating 4.7/5 26 reviews Learning center,After school program,Tutoring service
Town of Cary
Meeting point 2.7 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cary.

RAIL

Cary

211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

7 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

12 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Durham

26 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Apex and Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 12.18 mi (19.6 km).

Apex

#1 Apex

The most populous city in Wake County, North Carolina.

Population64,388
Coordinates35.7326500, -78.8502900
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Raleigh

#2 Raleigh

The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education.

Population474,414
Coordinates35.7721000, -78.6386100
Altitude96
CountryUnited States
Start: North Salem Street (-78.850246, 35.73263)
End: East South Street (-78.638606, 35.772148)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.97 L · about $2.06
Round trip
$4.12
1.04 gal · 3.94 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $2.06 $4.12
Mid-grade $4.43 $2.30 $4.61
Premium $4.78 $2.48 $4.97
Diesel $5.62 $2.92 $5.85

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · May 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Apex and Raleigh. The current time is 22:36:25.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.