How far is Chapel Hill, NC from Roanoke Rapids, NC?

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Roanoke Rapids, NC is about 346.1 miles (557 km), with a travel time of about 07h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 284 miles (457.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
346.12 mi
07h 00m
Flight
284.05 mi
457.13 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
284.05 mi
Kilometers
457.13 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
346.12 mi
Kilometers
557.02 km
Drive Time
07h 00m

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 07h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke Rapids
Thu, Apr 23, 10:11 AM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 23, 5:11 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-23T03:11
Arrive Roanoke Rapids
Thu, Apr 23, 10:11 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chapel Hill
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Clemmons
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Chapel Hill
172.9 mi
03h 30m
To Roanoke Rapids
173.3 mi
03h 30m

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
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Roanoke Rapids.

  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 left to continue on I 85 North: Durham

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    37.1 mi · 40 min

  20. 20

    Turn straight

    4.9 mi · 5 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1, US 158: Norlina

    1002 ft · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left

    8.6 mi · 11 min

  23. 23

    Turn right

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    5 mi · 6 min

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn left

    25.6 mi · 30 min

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Roanoke Avenue

    1.6 mi · 5 min · Roanoke Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Roanoke Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Billy Graham Freeway
163 mi · 47%
I 85 North
52.6 mi · 15%
I 40 East
46.3 mi · 13%
Guntertown Road
31.6 mi · 9%
US 1
5.22 mi · 2%
Roanoke Avenue
1.6 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

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.

Drive Time
07h 00m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+62.1 mi
284 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clemmons
03h 30m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
10:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Roanoke Rapids.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Roanoke Rapids?

The road trip is about 346.1 miles (557 km) and usually takes 07h 00m 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?

Clemmons is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.9 miles from Chapel Hill and 173.3 miles from Roanoke Rapids.

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

The direct path is about 284 miles (457.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.1 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 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 $48.36 one way or $96.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clemmons

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

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

BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

15 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

16 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
RAIL

Lexington

25 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

High Point

35 mi away
100 West High St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Roanoke Rapids. Straight-line distance: 284.05 mi (457.13 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Roanoke Rapids

#2 Roanoke Rapids

City in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States

Population14,186
Coordinates36.4615400, -77.6541500
Altitude48
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Roanoke Rapids (-77.65415, 36.46154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 557 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.21 gal
46.23 L · about $48.36
Round trip
$96.73
24.42 gal · 92.46 L
Estimated CO2
108.5 kg one way
Round trip: 217 kg / 478 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $48.36 $96.73
Mid-grade $4.43 $54.08 $108.16
Premium $4.78 $58.34 $116.68
Diesel $5.62 $68.67 $137.34

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 Roanoke Rapids. The current time is 03:11:20.

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.