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

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Washington, NC is about 388 miles (624.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 318.3 miles (512.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 39m 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
388.05 mi
07h 49m
Flight
318.35 mi
512.33 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
318.35 mi
Kilometers
512.33 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
388.05 mi
Kilometers
624.5 km
Drive Time
07h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 2:04 PM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Sat, Apr 18, 9:54 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-18T06:14
Arrive Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 2:04 PM EDT
Route Timing
07h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:50 PM to 3:20 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
8:20 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Kernersville
NC

City in North Carolina, United States of America

From Chapel Hill
193.8 mi
03h 54m
To Washington
194.2 mi
03h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SSW
Destination
93°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest

    2664 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    55.9 mi · 1 hr

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Stantonsburg Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Stantonsburg Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Memorial Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · South Memorial Drive

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Airport Road

    1941 ft · 40 sec · Airport Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Mumford Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Mumford Road

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Pactolus Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Pactolus Highway

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    17.8 mi · 24 min

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Billy Graham Freeway
163 mi · 42%
I 40 East
76.6 mi · 20%
I 87 North
73.4 mi · 19%
Guntertown Road
31.6 mi · 8%
Pactolus Highway
18.6 mi · 5%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 2%
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 49m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.7 mi
318.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kernersville
03h 54m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
8:20 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 388 miles (624.5 km) and usually takes 07h 49m 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?

Kernersville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 193.8 miles from Chapel Hill and 194.2 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 318.3 miles (512.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.7 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 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 $54.23 one way or $108.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 121.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chapel Hill and Sunny near Washington.

Stop Ideas Near Kernersville

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

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

BUS

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

14 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

16 mi away
100 West 5th Street
RAIL

High Point

19 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

23 mi away
236 East Washington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Washington. Straight-line distance: 318.35 mi (512.33 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

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

#2 Washington

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

Population9,487
Coordinates35.5465500, -77.0521700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Washington (-77.05217, 35.54655)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 625 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.69 gal
51.83 L · about $54.23
Round trip
$108.45
27.38 gal · 103.66 L
Estimated CO2
121.7 kg one way
Round trip: 243.3 kg / 536 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $54.23 $108.45
Mid-grade $4.43 $60.63 $121.27
Premium $4.78 $65.41 $130.82
Diesel $5.62 $76.99 $153.99

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Chapel Hill and Washington. The current time is 06:14:34.

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.