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

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Monroe, NC is about 184.5 miles (297 km), with a travel time of about 04h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.3 miles (222.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 06m 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
184.54 mi
04h 03m
Flight
138.35 mi
222.65 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
138.35 mi
Kilometers
222.65 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
184.54 mi
Kilometers
296.99 km
Drive Time
04h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monroe
Mon, May 25, 9:54 PM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Tue, May 26, 1:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-05-25T17:50
Arrive Monroe
Mon, May 25, 9:54 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:03 AM to 12:03 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
8:54 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
Spindale
NC

City in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Chapel Hill
92.2 mi
02h 01m
To Monroe
92.3 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph SSW
Destination
80°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville

    1238 ft · 21 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway

    2585 ft · 44 sec · Billy Graham Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    26.2 mi · 32 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton

    1433 ft · 19 sec · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

    810 ft · 11 sec · Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

    17.9 mi · 20 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on James A. Callahan Highway

    15.2 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard

    12.4 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

    572 ft · 8 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 16: Brookshire Boulevard, Downtown Charlotte

    1104 ft · 27 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on NC 16 South: Downtown Charlotte, Brookshire Boulevard, Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium

    118 m · 11 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Brookshire Boulevard

    1677 ft · 22 sec · Brookshire Boulevard

  26. 26

    Continue on Brookshire Freeway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Brookshire Freeway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight left toward US 74 East, NC 27 East: Independence Boulevard

    2261 ft · 55 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight right onto East Independence Expressway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Independence Expressway

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on East Independence Boulevard

    109 m · 5 sec · East Independence Boulevard

  30. 30

    Continue on East Independence Expressway

    2.1 mi · 2 min · East Independence Expressway

  31. 31

    Continue on East Independence Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 4 min · East Independence Boulevard

  32. 32

    Continue on Independence Boulevard

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Independence Boulevard

  33. 33

    Keep slight right to continue on Independence Boulevard

    5.6 mi · 7 min · Independence Boulevard

  34. 34

    Continue on West Roosevelt Boulevard

    4.1 mi · 5 min · West Roosevelt Boulevard

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right

    1449 ft · 40 sec

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Skyway Drive

    1.4 km · 1 min · Skyway Drive

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Skyway Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
37 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Guntertown Road
31.2 mi · 17%
Billy Graham Freeway
26.7 mi · 14%
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
18.1 mi · 10%
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi · 10%
James A. Callahan Highway
15.2 mi · 8%
Andrew Jackson Highway
13.8 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Billy Graham Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

26.2 mi · 00h 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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.2 mi
138.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spindale
02h 01m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
8:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chapel Hill and Patchy Fog near Monroe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 184.5 miles (297 km) and usually takes 04h 03m 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?

Spindale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.2 miles from Chapel Hill and 92.3 miles from Monroe.

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

The direct path is about 138.3 miles (222.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.2 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.79 one way or $51.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Spindale

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

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

RAIL

Spartanburg

45 mi away
290 Magnolia St
RAIL

Gastonia

70 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Greenville

71 mi away
1120 West Washington Street
RAIL

Charlotte

101 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Monroe. Straight-line distance: 138.35 mi (222.65 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Monroe

City in and county seat of Union County, North Carolina, United States

Population35,668
Coordinates34.9854300, -80.5495100
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Monroe (-80.54951, 34.98543)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 297 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.51 gal
24.65 L · about $25.79
Round trip
$51.57
13.02 gal · 49.3 L
Estimated CO2
57.9 kg one way
Round trip: 115.7 kg / 255 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.79 $51.57
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.83 $57.67
Premium $4.78 $31.10 $62.21
Diesel $5.62 $36.61 $73.22

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Chapel Hill and Monroe. The current time is 17:50:59.

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.