How far is Burlington, NC from Elizabeth City, NC?

The driving distance from Burlington, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 221.1 miles (355.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178.2 miles (286.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 40m 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
221.06 mi
04h 20m
Flight
178.22 mi
286.81 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
178.22 mi
Kilometers
286.81 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
221.06 mi
Kilometers
355.76 km
Drive Time
04h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 12, 1:56 PM EDT
Return by in Burlington
Sun, Apr 12, 6:17 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Burlington
2026-04-12T09:36
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 12, 1:56 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:20 AM to 12:20 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
8:20 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
Rocky Mount
NC

The most populous city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

From Burlington
110.4 mi
02h 10m
To Elizabeth City
110.7 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SE
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Burlington and Elizabeth City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burlington and Elizabeth City.

  1. 1

    Start on South Church Street

    59 m · 9 sec · South Church Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Webb Avenue

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West Webb Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on West Elm Street

    1524 ft · 28 sec · West Elm Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Harden Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · West Harden Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Harden Street

    24 m · 1 sec · East Harden Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto East Harden Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Harden Street

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1207 ft · 31 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Sam Hunt Freeway

    14.3 mi · 17 min · Sam Hunt Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest

    2664 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    80 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    40 mi · 50 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Providence Road

    783 ft · 34 sec · Providence Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Burlington and Elizabeth City.

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
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
159 mi · 72%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 14%
Sam Hunt Freeway
14.3 mi · 6%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 4%
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi · 1%
West Webb Avenue
2.05 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight left

80 mi · 01h 27m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.9 mi
178.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rocky Mount
02h 10m from Burlington
Leave By
8:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Burlington and Sunny near Elizabeth City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Burlington to Elizabeth City?

The road trip is about 221.1 miles (355.8 km) and usually takes 04h 20m 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?

Rocky Mount is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.4 miles from Burlington and 110.7 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 178.2 miles (286.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.9 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 8:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.90 one way or $61.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Burlington and Sunny near Elizabeth City.

Stop Ideas Near Rocky Mount

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

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

RAIL

Rocky Mount

1 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Wilson

26 mi away
401 East Nash Street
BUS

Greenville, NC

52 mi away
Second and Reade Streets
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

63 mi away
500 East Railroad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Burlington and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 178.22 mi (286.81 km).

Burlington

#1 Burlington

The most populous city in Alamance County, North Carolina.

Population55,599
Coordinates36.0956900, -79.4378000
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth City

#2 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,988
Coordinates36.2946000, -76.2510500
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Burlington (-79.4378, 36.09569)
End: Elizabeth City (-76.25105, 36.2946)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 356 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.8 gal
29.53 L · about $30.90
Round trip
$61.79
15.6 gal · 59.06 L
Estimated CO2
69.3 kg one way
Round trip: 138.6 kg / 306 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $30.90 $61.79
Mid-grade $4.43 $34.55 $69.09
Premium $4.78 $37.27 $74.54
Diesel $5.62 $43.87 $87.73

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Burlington and Elizabeth City. The current time is 09:36:41.

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.