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

The driving distance from Davidson, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is about 161.7 miles (260.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 109.2 miles (175.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
161.71 mi
02h 49m
Flight
109.2 mi
175.74 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Davidson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
109.2 mi
Kilometers
175.74 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
161.71 mi
Kilometers
260.25 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 23, 10:26 AM EDT
Return by in Davidson
Thu, Apr 23, 1:15 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Davidson
2026-04-23T07:37
Arrive Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 23, 10:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Davidson
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Glen Alpine
NC

Town of the United States

From Davidson
80.7 mi
01h 24m
To Chapel Hill
81 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    32 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    134 m · 34 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Ridge Road

    2255 ft · 2 min · Ridge Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    768 ft · 23 sec · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Mecklenburg Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Mecklenburg Highway

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Langtree Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Langtree Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward I 77 North, US 21 North: Statesville

    812 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    16.6 mi · 19 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70: G. Bagnal Boulevard

    1320 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    52 m · 11 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Garner Bagnal Boulevard

    4.8 mi · 8 min · Garner Bagnal Boulevard

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Hickory

    1130 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    94.6 mi · 1 hr 48 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25

    787 ft · 23 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn straight

    77 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

  19. 19

    Take the ramp right

    1885 ft · 46 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25 North, US 70 West: Marshall

    21.3 mi · 33 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  26. 26

    Turn left

    8 m · 2 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
27 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Hickory
94.8 mi · 59%
US 25 North
24.8 mi · 15%
I 77 North
16.7 mi · 10%
Broadway Street
8.04 mi · 5%
Garner Bagnal Boulevard
4.79 mi · 3%
Billy Graham Freeway
4.56 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Hickory

Merge slight left

94.6 mi · 01h 48m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.5 mi
109.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glen Alpine
01h 24m from Davidson
Leave By
12:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Davidson and Sunny near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 161.7 miles (260.2 km) and usually takes 02h 49m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Glen Alpine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.7 miles from Davidson and 81 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 109.2 miles (175.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.62 one way or $45.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Davidson and Sunny near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Glen Alpine

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

76 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Spartanburg

87 mi away
290 Magnolia St
RAIL

Charlotte

102 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

108 mi away
201 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Davidson and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 109.2 mi (175.74 km).

Davidson

#1 Davidson

Town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States

Population13,203
Coordinates35.5023300, -80.8391200
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Chapel Hill

#2 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Start: (-80.83888, 35.502383)
End: (-82.708707, 35.942917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 260 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.71 gal
21.6 L · about $22.62
Round trip
$45.23
11.42 gal · 43.2 L
Estimated CO2
50.7 kg one way
Round trip: 101.5 kg / 224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.62 $45.23
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.29 $50.58
Premium $4.78 $27.28 $54.56
Diesel $5.62 $32.11 $64.23

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

There is no time difference between Davidson and Chapel Hill. The current time is 07:37:26.

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.