How far is Balfour, NC from West Raleigh, NC?

The driving distance from Balfour, NC to West Raleigh, NC is about 264 miles (424.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
263.93 mi
04h 15m
Flight
216.17 mi
347.89 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Balfour.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
216.17 mi
Kilometers
347.89 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.93 mi
Kilometers
424.75 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Raleigh
Fri, Apr 17, 10:44 PM EDT
Return by in Balfour
Sat, Apr 18, 2:59 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Balfour
2026-04-17T18:28
Arrive West Raleigh
Fri, Apr 17, 10:44 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Balfour
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Mocksville
NC

City in Davie County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Balfour
129.1 mi
02h 07m
To West Raleigh
134.8 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
90°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
8 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Balfour and West Raleigh.

  1. 1

    Start on Balfour Road

    54 m · 6 sec · Balfour Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Berkeley Road

    632 ft · 23 sec · Berkeley Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Asheville Highway

    5.3 mi · 8 min · Asheville Highway

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Hendersonville Road

    3.9 mi · 7 min · Hendersonville Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Sweeten Creek Road

    6.8 mi · 12 min · Sweeten Creek Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right

    1170 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    159.8 mi · 3 hr 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Wade Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Faircloth Street

    2810 ft · 1 min · Faircloth Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Hillsborough Street

    1903 ft · 48 sec · Hillsborough Street

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    22 m · 2 sec · Hillsborough Street

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    933 ft · 23 sec · Hillsborough Street

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    23 m · 1 sec · Hillsborough Street

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    803 ft · 20 sec · Hillsborough Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    23 m · 1 sec · Hillsborough Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    2775 ft · 1 min · Hillsborough Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Enterprise Street

    22 m · 4 sec · Enterprise Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sweeten Creek Road
167 mi · 63%
I 40 East
76.6 mi · 29%
Asheville Highway
5.3 mi · 2%
Hendersonville Road
3.89 mi · 1%
Wade Avenue
3.86 mi · 1%
Hillsborough Street
1.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Sweeten Creek Road

Merge slight left

160 mi · 03h 02m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.8 mi
216.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mocksville
02h 07m from Balfour
Leave By
8:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Balfour and Sunny near West Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Balfour to West Raleigh?

The road trip is about 264 miles (424.8 km) and usually takes 04h 15m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mocksville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.1 miles from Balfour and 134.8 miles from West Raleigh.

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

The direct path is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.88 one way or $73.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Balfour and Sunny near West Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Mocksville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mocksville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Salisbury

26 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

29 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

36 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

37 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Balfour and West Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 216.17 mi (347.89 km).

Balfour

#1 Balfour

Township in Henderson County, North Carolina

Population1,187
Coordinates35.3465100, -82.4720600
Altitude646
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 West Raleigh

A census-designated place located in Wake County, North Carolina.

Population338,759
Coordinates35.7868200, -78.6638900
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Start: Balfour Road (-82.47185, 35.346539)
End: Enterprise Street (-78.664028, 35.786823)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 425 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.31 gal
35.25 L · about $36.88
Round trip
$73.75
18.62 gal · 70.5 L
Estimated CO2
82.7 kg one way
Round trip: 165.5 kg / 365 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.88 $73.75
Mid-grade $4.43 $41.23 $82.47
Premium $4.78 $44.48 $88.97
Diesel $5.62 $52.36 $104.72

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 · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Balfour and West Raleigh. The current time is 18:28:58.

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.