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

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Burlington, NC is about 226.7 miles (364.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 183.1 miles (294.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 47m 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
226.69 mi
03h 53m
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 Chapel Hill.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
226.69 mi
Kilometers
364.83 km
Drive Time
03h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Burlington
Sun, Apr 26, 2:34 PM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 26, 6:28 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-26T10:40
Arrive Burlington
Sun, Apr 26, 2:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 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
9:12 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chapel Hill
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 Chapel Hill
114.8 mi
01h 56m
To Burlington
111.8 mi
01h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Sunday

Patchy Fog

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NNW
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    8 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    20.9 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    1145 ft · 19 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    1142 ft · 20 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Billy Graham Freeway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    157.8 mi · 3 hr

  13. 13

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

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    17.1 mi · 20 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 62: Burlington Downtown, Alamance

    1181 ft · 37 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Alamance Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Alamance Road

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto South Church Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · South Church Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Church Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Billy Graham Freeway
163 mi · 72%
Guntertown Road
31.6 mi · 14%
I 40 East
26.7 mi · 12%
South Church Street
1.64 mi · 1%
Chapel Hill Road
1.56 mi · 1%
Alamance Road
1.33 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Billy Graham Freeway

Merge slight left

158 mi · 03h 00m

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 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.6 mi
183.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookford
01h 56m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
9:12 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 226.7 miles (364.8 km) and usually takes 03h 53m 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 114.8 miles from Chapel Hill and 111.8 miles from Burlington.

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 43.6 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 9:12 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.69 one way or $63.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Chapel Hill and Burlington. Straight-line distance: 183.09 mi (294.65 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Burlington

#2 Burlington

The most populous city in Alamance County, North Carolina.

Population55,599
Coordinates36.0956900, -79.4378000
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Start: (-82.708707, 35.942917)
End: South Church Street (-79.437732, 36.095621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 365 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8 gal
30.28 L · about $31.69
Round trip
$63.38
16 gal · 60.56 L
Estimated CO2
71.1 kg one way
Round trip: 142.2 kg / 313 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $31.69 $63.38
Mid-grade $4.43 $35.43 $70.86
Premium $4.78 $38.22 $76.45
Diesel $5.62 $44.99 $89.98

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 Chapel Hill and Burlington. The current time is 10:40:57.

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.