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

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Morrisville, NC is about 274.8 miles (442.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.5 miles (350.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 15m 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
274.84 mi
05h 37m
Flight
217.52 mi
350.07 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
217.52 mi
Kilometers
350.07 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
274.84 mi
Kilometers
442.32 km
Drive Time
05h 37m

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 05h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Morrisville
Thu, Apr 23, 5:52 PM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 23, 11:30 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-23T12:14
Arrive Morrisville
Thu, Apr 23, 5:52 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:38 AM to 1:38 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
5:44 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
Statesville
NC

City in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States

From Chapel Hill
137.3 mi
02h 48m
To Morrisville
137.6 mi
02h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph W
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    25.2 mi · 29 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Airport Boulevard West

    1046 ft · 22 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Airport Boulevard West

    90 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Airport Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Airport Boulevard

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Chapel Hill Road

  21. 21

    Turn slight right

    5 m · 1 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Billy Graham Freeway
163 mi · 59%
I 40 East
71.5 mi · 26%
Guntertown Road
31.6 mi · 12%
Chapel Hill Road
2.75 mi · 1%
Airport Boulevard
1.75 mi · 1%
Airport Boulevard West
0.25 mi
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
05h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.3 mi
217.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Statesville
02h 48m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
5:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Morrisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 274.8 miles (442.3 km) and usually takes 05h 37m 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?

Statesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.3 miles from Chapel Hill and 137.6 miles from Morrisville.

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

The direct path is about 217.5 miles (350.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.3 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 5:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.42 one way or $76.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Statesville

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

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

RAIL

Kannapolis

39 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

41 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

58 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

Charlotte

60 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Morrisville. Straight-line distance: 217.52 mi (350.07 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Morrisville

Town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States

Population30,495
Coordinates35.8234800, -78.8255600
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Morrisville (-78.82556, 35.82348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 442 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.7 gal
36.71 L · about $38.42
Round trip
$76.84
19.4 gal · 73.42 L
Estimated CO2
86.2 kg one way
Round trip: 172.4 kg / 380 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $38.42 $76.84
Mid-grade $4.43 $42.96 $85.92
Premium $4.78 $46.35 $92.69
Diesel $5.62 $54.55 $109.11

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Chapel Hill and Morrisville. The current time is 12:14:34.

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.