How far is Durham, NC from Lowell, NC?

The driving distance from Durham, NC to Lowell, NC is about 155.4 miles (250.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 133.5 miles (214.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 59m 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
155.4 mi
02h 59m
Flight
133.56 mi
214.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Durham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
133.56 mi
Kilometers
214.95 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.4 mi
Kilometers
250.09 km
Drive Time
02h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lowell
Thu, Apr 23, 3:20 AM EDT
Return by in Durham
Thu, Apr 23, 6:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Durham
2026-04-23T00:21
Arrive Lowell
Thu, Apr 23, 3:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Durham
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
Thomasville
NC

City in and the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States

From Durham
77.6 mi
01h 29m
To Lowell
77.8 mi
01h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Durham and Lowell.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durham and Lowell.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    700 ft · 24 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Mangum Street

    1691 ft · 48 sec · South Mangum Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Jackie Robinson Drive

    65 m · 7 sec · Jackie Robinson Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight

    154 m · 13 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway

    5 mi · 7 min · Durham Freeway

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    40.6 mi · 47 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    95 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 7: Lowell, McAdenville

    1081 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on NC 7: Lowell, McAdenville

    94 m · 12 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto McAdenville Road

    3275 ft · 1 min · McAdenville Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    709 ft · 28 sec · North Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    685 ft · 14 sec · West 1st Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Durham and Lowell.

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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
100 mi · 65%
Durham Freeway
53.3 mi · 34%
McAdenville Road
0.62 mi
South Mangum Street
0.32 mi
NC 7
0.26 mi
Jackie Robinson Drive
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

95 mi · 01h 47m

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 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
06h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.9 mi
133.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasville
01h 29m from Durham
Leave By
12:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Durham and Sunny near Lowell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Durham to Lowell?

The road trip is about 155.4 miles (250.1 km) and usually takes 02h 59m 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?

Thomasville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.6 miles from Durham and 77.8 miles from Lowell.

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

The direct path is about 133.5 miles (214.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.9 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 12:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.71 one way or $43.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Durham and Sunny near Lowell.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasville

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

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

RAIL

High Point

11 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Lexington

17 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

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

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

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

28 mi away
100 West 5th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Durham and Lowell. Straight-line distance: 133.56 mi (214.95 km).

Durham

#1 Durham

The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Durham metropolitan area.

Population285,897
Coordinates35.9940300, -78.8986200
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Lowell

#2 Lowell

City in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States

Population3,744
Coordinates35.2679200, -81.1028500
Altitude249
CountryUnited States
Start: Durham (-78.89862, 35.99403)
End: Lowell (-81.10285, 35.26792)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 250 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.48 gal
20.76 L · about $21.71
Round trip
$43.41
10.96 gal · 41.52 L
Estimated CO2
48.7 kg one way
Round trip: 97.4 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $21.71 $43.41
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.27 $48.54
Premium $4.78 $26.18 $52.37
Diesel $5.62 $30.82 $61.64

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 Durham and Lowell. The current time is 00:21:02.

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.