How far is Charlotte, NC from River Road, NC?
The driving distance from Charlotte, NC to River Road, NC is about 272.7 miles (438.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 44m 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 22m.
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.
Town in North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Charlotte and River Road.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte and River Road.
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1
Start on South Tryon Street
3.5 mi · 7 min · South Tryon Street
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2
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · West Sugar Creek Road
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3
Take the ramp right toward I 85 North: Concord
941 ft · 23 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Julius Chambers Highway
45.4 mi · 52 min · Julius Chambers Highway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point
32.8 mi · 35 min
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6
Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70
5.9 mi · 7 min
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7
Keep slight left
36.8 mi · 43 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh
30.3 mi · 35 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue
3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue
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10
Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
2664 ft · 1 min
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11
Merge slight left
9.2 mi · 12 min
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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
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13
Merge slight right
16.8 mi · 18 min
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14
Keep slight right
55.9 mi · 1 hr
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15
Turn straight onto Stantonsburg Road
2.5 mi · 4 min · Stantonsburg Road
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16
Turn left onto South Memorial Drive
2 mi · 3 min · South Memorial Drive
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17
Turn right onto Airport Road
1941 ft · 40 sec · Airport Road
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18
Continue on Mumford Road
1.7 mi · 3 min · Mumford Road
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19
At the end of the road, turn right onto Pactolus Highway
1.3 km · 1 min · Pactolus Highway
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20
Continue straight
18.1 mi · 25 min
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21
Turn right onto East 5th Street
1389 ft · 36 sec · East 5th Street
-
22
Turn right onto North Brown Street
931 ft · 26 sec · North Brown Street
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23
Turn left onto Park Drive
2677 ft · 1 min · Park Drive
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24
Continue on Captain Patrick "Oly" Olsen Memorial Bridge
139 m · 11 sec · Captain Patrick "Oly" Olsen Memorial Bridge
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25
Continue on River Road
3.7 mi · 7 min · River Road
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26
Turn left onto Ross Road
78 m · 11 sec · Ross Road
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Ross Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Charlotte and River Road.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 87 North
Keep slight right
55.9 mi · 01h 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.
Sunny leaving Charlotte and Sunny near River Road.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Charlotte to River Road?
The road trip is about 272.7 miles (438.8 km) and usually takes 05h 22m 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?
Carrboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 136.2 miles from Charlotte and 136.5 miles from River Road.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.8 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 6:16 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.10 one way or $76.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Charlotte and Sunny near River Road.
Stop Ideas Near Carrboro
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Durham County Inspections Department
The Town Hall Grill
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carrboro.
Durham
Cary
North Carolina State Fair station
Burlington
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Charlotte and River Road. Straight-line distance: 217.9 mi (350.67 km).
#1 Charlotte
The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.
| Population | 900,350 |
| Coordinates | 35.2270900, -80.8431300 |
| Altitude | 229 |
| Country | United States |
#2 River Road
Township in Beaufort County, North Carolina
| Population | 4,394 |
| Coordinates | 35.5068300, -76.9907800 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: River Road (-76.99078, 35.50683)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 439 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 05m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $38.10 | $76.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $42.61 | $85.21 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $45.96 | $91.93 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $54.10 | $108.21 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.