How far is Chapel Hill, NC from Wake Forest, NC?
The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Wake Forest, NC is about 284.5 miles (457.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 234.8 miles (377.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 56m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chapel Hill and Wake Forest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Wake Forest.
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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
1.5 mi · 2 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 70 Business West, NC 98: Durham, Wake Forest
1811 ft · 48 sec
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21
Turn left onto Holloway Street
2.5 mi · 5 min · Holloway Street
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22
Continue on Wake Forest Highway
6.5 mi · 10 min · Wake Forest Highway
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23
Continue on Durham Road
8.9 mi · 12 min · Durham Road
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24
Turn left onto Durham Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Durham Road
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25
Continue on South Avenue
801 ft · 29 sec · South Avenue
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East South Avenue
37 m · 2 sec · East South Avenue
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27
Exit the roundabout onto East South Avenue
116 m · 13 sec · East South Avenue
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28
Continue on Front Street
526 ft · 20 sec · Front Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chapel Hill and Wake Forest.
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.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chapel Hill and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wake Forest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Wake Forest?
The road trip is about 284.5 miles (457.9 km) and usually takes 05h 56m 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 142 miles from Chapel Hill and 142.5 miles from Wake Forest.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 234.8 miles (377.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.7 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 5:08 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.77 one way or $79.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chapel Hill and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Wake Forest.
Stop Ideas Near Statesville
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 Statesville.
Kannapolis
Salisbury
Lexington
Charlotte
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Wake Forest. Straight-line distance: 234.83 mi (377.92 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 Wake Forest
Town located in the U.
| Population | 47,314 |
| Coordinates | 35.9798700, -78.5097200 |
| Altitude | 119 |
| Country | United States |
End: Wake Forest (-78.50972, 35.97987)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 458 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $39.77 | $79.54 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $44.47 | $88.93 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $47.97 | $95.94 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $56.46 | $112.93 |
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 · Jun 10, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.