How far is Charlotte, NC from Elizabeth City, NC?

The driving distance from Charlotte, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 328.5 miles (528.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 267.8 miles (431 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 45m 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
328.44 mi
06h 22m
Flight
267.79 mi
430.96 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charlotte.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
267.79 mi
Kilometers
430.96 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
328.44 mi
Kilometers
528.57 km
Drive Time
06h 22m

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 06h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 11:46 AM EDT
Return by in Charlotte
Sun, Apr 19, 6:09 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlotte
2026-04-19T05:23
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 11:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:23 PM to 1:53 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
11:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlotte
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
West Raleigh
NC

A census-designated place located in Wake County, North Carolina.

From Charlotte
164.1 mi
03h 11m
To Elizabeth City
164.4 mi
03h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph W
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charlotte and Elizabeth City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte and Elizabeth City.

  1. 1

    Start on South Tryon Street

    3.5 mi · 7 min · South Tryon Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Sugar Creek Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 85 North: Concord

    941 ft · 23 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Julius Chambers Highway

    45.4 mi · 52 min · Julius Chambers Highway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  10. 10

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

    2664 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

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

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    80 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    40 mi · 50 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 23 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Providence Road

    783 ft · 34 sec · Providence Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlotte and Elizabeth City.

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
19 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
159 mi · 48%
Julius Chambers Highway
45.4 mi · 14%
US 29
42.7 mi · 13%
I 85 North
33 mi · 10%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 9%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight left

80 mi · 01h 27m

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
06h 22m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.7 mi
267.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Raleigh
03h 11m from Charlotte
Leave By
11:14 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Charlotte and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlotte to Elizabeth City?

The road trip is about 328.5 miles (528.6 km) and usually takes 06h 22m 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?

West Raleigh is a useful midpoint, sitting about 164.1 miles from Charlotte and 164.4 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 267.8 miles (431 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.7 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 $45.91 one way or $91.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Charlotte and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Stop Ideas Near West Raleigh

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around West Raleigh and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 14.7 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 9 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Practical stop 10.8 mi away

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall

Morrisville , NC
101 Morrisville Square Way Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
Rating 4.7/5 26 reviews Learning center,After school program,Tutoring service
Town of Cary
Meeting point 8.6 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Raleigh.

RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

2 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

4 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Cary

10 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

Durham

32 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlotte and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 267.79 mi (430.96 km).

Charlotte

#1 Charlotte

The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Population900,350
Coordinates35.2270900, -80.8431300
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth City

#2 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,988
Coordinates36.2946000, -76.2510500
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Charlotte (-80.84313, 35.22709)
End: Elizabeth City (-76.25105, 36.2946)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 529 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.59 gal
43.87 L · about $45.91
Round trip
$91.82
23.18 gal · 87.74 L
Estimated CO2
103 kg one way
Round trip: 206 kg / 454 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $45.91 $91.82
Mid-grade $4.43 $51.33 $102.66
Premium $4.78 $55.38 $110.75
Diesel $5.62 $65.18 $130.36

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Charlotte and Elizabeth City. The current time is 05:23:38.

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.