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

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Kernersville, NC is about 191.9 miles (308.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 147.8 miles (237.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m 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
191.91 mi
04h 01m
Flight
147.74 mi
237.76 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
147.74 mi
Kilometers
237.76 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
191.91 mi
Kilometers
308.85 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kernersville
Sun, Apr 12, 1:40 PM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 12, 5:42 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-12T09:38
Arrive Kernersville
Sun, Apr 12, 1:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 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
8:56 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
Drexel
NC

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

From Chapel Hill
95.9 mi
02h 00m
To Kernersville
96.1 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph SSE
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    134 mi · 2 hr 32 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway

    2800 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    7.7 mi · 10 min · Salem Parkway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Salem Parkway

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Salem Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Kernersville, South Main Street

    987 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    44 m · 6 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    2692 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Cherry Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · South Cherry Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Mountain Street

    103 m · 6 sec · West Mountain Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Mountain Street

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Billy Graham Freeway
140 mi · 73%
Guntertown Road
31.6 mi · 16%
Salem Parkway
13.8 mi · 7%
Chapel Hill Road
1.56 mi · 1%
South Cherry Street
0.75 mi
US 421 South
0.53 mi
Longest Stretch

Billy Graham Freeway

Merge slight left

134 mi · 02h 32m

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 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.1 mi
147.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Drexel
02h 00m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
8:56 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Kernersville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 191.9 miles (308.8 km) and usually takes 04h 01m 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?

Drexel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.9 miles from Chapel Hill and 96.1 miles from Kernersville.

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

The direct path is about 147.8 miles (237.8 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 8:56 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.82 one way or $53.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chapel Hill and Sunny near Kernersville.

Stop Ideas Near Drexel

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Drexel and the surrounding midpoint area.
Casar Park, Town Hall, & Veterans Memorial
Scenic stop 14.8 mi away

Casar Park, Town Hall, & Veterans Memorial

Casar , NC
137 Deviney St, Casar, NC 28020, United States
Rating 4.6/5 32 reviews Tourist attraction,City or town hall,Event venue,Memorial park,Picnic ground,Recreation center,Park
City of Lenoir
Meeting point 13.7 mi away

City of Lenoir

Lenoir , NC
801 West Ave NW, Lenoir, NC 28645
Rating 3.6/5 14 reviews City Hall,City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 13.5 mi away

Longview Town Hall

Hickory , NC
2404 1st Ave SW, Hickory, NC 28602
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Urban planning department

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Gastonia

67 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Charlotte

91 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

93 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Spartanburg

94 mi away
290 Magnolia St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Kernersville. Straight-line distance: 147.74 mi (237.76 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Kernersville

City in North Carolina, United States of America

Population24,891
Coordinates36.1198600, -80.0736500
Altitude308
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Kernersville (-80.07365, 36.11986)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 309 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.77 gal
25.63 L · about $26.82
Round trip
$53.63
13.54 gal · 51.26 L
Estimated CO2
60.2 kg one way
Round trip: 120.3 kg / 265 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.82 $53.63
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.98 $59.97
Premium $4.78 $32.35 $64.69
Diesel $5.62 $38.07 $76.15

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 Chapel Hill and Kernersville. The current time is 09:38:26.

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.