How far is Chapel Hill, NC from Clayton, NC?
The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Clayton, NC is about 301.9 miles (485.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 239.2 miles (384.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 11m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in north Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chapel Hill and Clayton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Clayton.
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1
Start on the route
8 m · 5 sec
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2
Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road
1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road
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3
Continue on Guntertown Road
2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road
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4
At the end of the road, turn left
3.5 mi · 6 min
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5
Continue straight
20.9 mi · 32 min
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6
Take the exit slight right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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7
Continue straight
4.2 mi · 5 min
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8
Keep slight left
1145 ft · 19 sec
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9
Keep slight right
1142 ft · 20 sec
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10
Merge slight right onto Billy Graham Freeway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Billy Graham Freeway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Billy Graham Freeway
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12
Merge slight left
157.8 mi · 3 hr
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7.8 mi · 10 min
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14
Merge slight right
1.8 mi · 2 min
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15
Keep slight left
36.8 mi · 43 min
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh
30.3 mi · 35 min
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17
Keep slight left
9.5 mi · 11 min
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18
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 70: Garner, Smithfield, Goldsboro
894 ft · 22 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on US 70 East: Smithfield
1.2 mi · 3 min
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22
Turn straight onto Goldsboro Highway
5.2 mi · 7 min · Goldsboro Highway
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23
Continue on Clayton Boulevard
1.2 mi · 2 min · Clayton Boulevard
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24
Turn slight right
819 ft · 30 sec
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25
Keep slight left
35 m · 9 sec
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26
Turn left onto Veterans Parkway
75 m · 8 sec · Veterans Parkway
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27
Continue on South Lombard Street
2602 ft · 2 min · South Lombard Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Lombard Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chapel Hill and Clayton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Clayton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Clayton?
The road trip is about 301.9 miles (485.8 km) and usually takes 06h 11m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Harmony is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.8 miles from Chapel Hill and 151.1 miles from Clayton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 239.2 miles (384.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.7 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.18 one way or $84.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chapel Hill and Sunny near Clayton.
Stop Ideas Near Harmony
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Harmony.
Salisbury
Lexington
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 239.14 mi (384.86 km).
#1 Chapel Hill
Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States
| Population | 63,705 |
| Coordinates | 35.9428800, -82.7087500 |
| Altitude | 658 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Clayton
Town in North Carolina
| Population | 26,458 |
| Coordinates | 35.6507100, -78.4563900 |
| Altitude | 104 |
| Country | United States |
End: Clayton (-78.45639, 35.65071)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 486 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 02m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $42.18 | $84.37 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $47.17 | $94.34 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $50.89 | $101.77 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $59.90 | $119.79 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.