How far is Charlotte, NC from Washington, NC?

The driving distance from Charlotte, NC to Washington, NC is about 267.7 miles (430.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 214.7 miles (345.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
267.66 mi
05h 12m
Flight
214.67 mi
345.47 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
214.67 mi
Kilometers
345.47 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
267.66 mi
Kilometers
430.75 km
Drive Time
05h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 10:10 AM EDT
Return by in Charlotte
Sat, Apr 18, 3:22 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charlotte
2026-04-18T04:57
Arrive Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 10:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:13 AM to 1:13 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:34 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charlotte
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Carrboro
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Charlotte
133.7 mi
02h 36m
To Washington
134 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph W
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 Charlotte and Washington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte and Washington.

  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 right

    55.9 mi · 1 hr

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Stantonsburg Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Stantonsburg Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Memorial Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · South Memorial Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Airport Road

    1941 ft · 40 sec · Airport Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Mumford Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Mumford Road

  19. 19

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

    1.3 km · 1 min · Pactolus Highway

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    17.8 mi · 24 min

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
73.4 mi · 27%
Julius Chambers Highway
45.4 mi · 17%
US 29
42.7 mi · 16%
I 85 North
33 mi · 12%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 11%
Pactolus Highway
18.6 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53 mi
214.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carrboro
02h 36m from Charlotte
Leave By
6:34 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Charlotte and Sunny near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charlotte to Washington?

The road trip is about 267.7 miles (430.8 km) and usually takes 05h 12m 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 133.7 miles from Charlotte and 134 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 214.7 miles (345.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 53 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 6:34 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.39 one way or $74.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Charlotte and Sunny near Washington.

Stop Ideas Near Carrboro

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 Carrboro and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham
Food stop 7.5 mi away

Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham

Durham , NC
7830 NC-751, Durham, NC 27713
Rating 4.5/5 1,265 reviews Hamburger restaurant,Bar,Bar & grill,Takeout Restaurant,Sandwich shop,Sports bar
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 9.3 mi away

Durham County Inspections Department

Durham , NC
101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701
Rating 3.5/5 15 reviews City government office
The Town Hall Grill
Nearby stop 6.2 mi away

The Town Hall Grill

Chapel Hill , NC
410 Market St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Rating 4.2/5 302 reviews Bar & grill
Pompieri Pizza
Food stop 9.3 mi away

Pompieri Pizza

Durham , NC
102 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701
Rating 4.5/5 916 reviews Pizza restaurant,Bar,Family restaurant,Neapolitan restaurant

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carrboro.

RAIL

Durham

18 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street
RAIL

Cary

30 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

36 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Burlington

38 mi away
101 North Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charlotte and Washington. Straight-line distance: 214.67 mi (345.47 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
Washington

#2 Washington

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

Population9,487
Coordinates35.5465500, -77.0521700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Charlotte (-80.84313, 35.22709)
End: Washington (-77.05217, 35.54655)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 431 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.44 gal
35.75 L · about $37.39
Round trip
$74.78
18.88 gal · 71.5 L
Estimated CO2
83.9 kg one way
Round trip: 167.8 kg / 370 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $37.39 $74.78
Mid-grade $4.43 $41.81 $83.62
Premium $4.78 $45.10 $90.21
Diesel $5.62 $53.09 $106.18

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 Charlotte and Washington. The current time is 04:57:46.

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.