How far is Burlington, NC from Chapel Hill, NC?

The driving distance from Burlington, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is about 227.2 miles (365.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 183.1 miles (294.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m 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
227.15 mi
03h 49m
Flight
183.09 mi
294.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Burlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
183.09 mi
Kilometers
294.65 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
227.15 mi
Kilometers
365.56 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 03h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 26, 12:40 PM EDT
Return by in Burlington
Sun, Apr 26, 4:30 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Burlington
2026-04-26T08:50
Arrive Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 26, 12:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Burlington
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
Brookford
NC

Human settlement in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Burlington
114.5 mi
01h 54m
To Chapel Hill
112.6 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph N
Destination
78°F
Sunday

Patchy Fog

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Burlington and Chapel Hill.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burlington and Chapel Hill.

  1. 1

    Start on South Church Street

    59 m · 7 sec · South Church Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Webb Avenue

    809 ft · 25 sec · West Webb Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Fisher Street

    2275 ft · 48 sec · South Fisher Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto South Church Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · South Church Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Alamance Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Alamance Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro

    1180 ft · 29 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Sam Hunt Freeway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Sam Hunt Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

    153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25

    787 ft · 23 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn straight

    77 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right

    1885 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25 North, US 70 West: Marshall

    21.3 mi · 33 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  23. 23

    Turn left

    8 m · 2 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Burlington and Chapel Hill.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
153 mi · 67%
Sam Hunt Freeway
31.6 mi · 14%
US 25 North
24.8 mi · 11%
Broadway Street
8.04 mi · 4%
Billy Graham Freeway
4.56 mi · 2%
Guntertown Road
2.16 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

153 mi · 02h 54m

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
03h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.1 mi
183.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookford
01h 54m from Burlington
Leave By
9:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Burlington and Patchy Fog near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Burlington to Chapel Hill?

The road trip is about 227.2 miles (365.6 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Brookford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 114.5 miles from Burlington and 112.6 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 183.1 miles (294.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.1 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 9:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.73 one way or $63.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Burlington and Patchy Fog near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Brookford

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Brookford, 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 Brookford.

RAIL

Gastonia

51 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Kannapolis

69 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Charlotte

70 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Salisbury

80 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Burlington and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 183.09 mi (294.65 km).

Burlington

#1 Burlington

The most populous city in Alamance County, North Carolina.

Population55,599
Coordinates36.0956900, -79.4378000
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Chapel Hill

#2 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Start: South Church Street (-79.437732, 36.095621)
End: (-82.708707, 35.942917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 366 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.01 gal
30.34 L · about $31.73
Round trip
$63.46
16.02 gal · 60.68 L
Estimated CO2
71.2 kg one way
Round trip: 142.4 kg / 314 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $31.73 $63.46
Mid-grade $4.43 $35.48 $70.95
Premium $4.78 $38.27 $76.54
Diesel $5.62 $45.05 $90.10

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Burlington and Chapel Hill. The current time is 08:50:37.

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.