How far is Chapel Hill, NC from Knightdale, NC?
The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Knightdale, NC is about 294.2 miles (473.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 237 miles (381.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 06m 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 03m.
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.
Mostly Clear
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chapel Hill and Knightdale.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Knightdale.
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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 left to continue on I 85 North: Durham
9.4 mi · 11 min
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17
Keep slight left
1.8 mi · 2 min
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18
Continue straight
4.3 mi · 5 min
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 885 South, US 70 East: Raleigh
2.6 mi · 3 min
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20
Keep slight right to continue on South Miami Boulevard
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Miami Boulevard
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21
Continue on New Raleigh Highway
2.6 mi · 4 min · New Raleigh Highway
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22
Continue on Glenwood Avenue
1.8 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Avenue
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23
Take the exit slight right toward I 540: Wake Forest, RDU Airport
649 ft · 16 sec
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24
Keep slight left to continue on I 540 East: Wake Forest
1.6 km · 2 min
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25
Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway
18.9 mi · 20 min · Northern Wake Expressway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward US 64 Business East: Knightdale
1358 ft · 33 sec
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27
Turn straight onto Knightdale Boulevard
1.6 mi · 3 min · Knightdale Boulevard
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28
Turn right onto North Smithfield Road
1.4 km · 2 min · North Smithfield Road
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29
Turn left onto Railroad Street
135 m · 20 sec · Railroad Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chapel Hill and Knightdale.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
Mostly Clear leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Knightdale.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Knightdale?
The road trip is about 294.2 miles (473.4 km) and usually takes 06h 03m 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 146.9 miles from Chapel Hill and 147.3 miles from Knightdale.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 237 miles (381.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.2 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 $41.12 one way or $82.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Chapel Hill and Sunny near Knightdale.
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 Knightdale. Straight-line distance: 236.97 mi (381.37 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 Knightdale
City in Wake County, North Carolina, United States of America
| Population | 18,122 |
| Coordinates | 35.7876500, -78.4805600 |
| Altitude | 96 |
| Country | United States |
End: Knightdale (-78.48056, 35.78765)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 473 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $41.12 | $82.23 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $45.97 | $91.95 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $49.60 | $99.19 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $58.38 | $116.75 |
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 · May 05, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.