How far is Durham, NC from Salisbury, NC?

The driving distance from Durham, NC to Salisbury, NC is about 102.8 miles (165.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 91 miles (146.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 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
102.81 mi
01h 59m
Flight
91.04 mi
146.51 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
91.04 mi
Kilometers
146.51 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102.81 mi
Kilometers
165.45 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salisbury
Thu, Apr 23, 11:10 AM EDT
Return by in Durham
Thu, Apr 23, 1:10 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Durham
2026-04-23T09:10
Arrive Salisbury
Thu, Apr 23, 11:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:30 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Greensboro
NC

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

From Durham
51.3 mi
00h 59m
To Salisbury
51.4 mi
00h 59m

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
82°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 Salisbury.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    42.1 mi · 45 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle

    768 ft · 19 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Salisbury, Downtown

    733 ft · 18 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto East Innes Street

    1.2 mi · 4 min · East Innes Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Innes Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Durham Freeway
53.3 mi · 52%
I 85 Business South
47.5 mi · 46%
East Innes Street
1.18 mi · 1%
South Mangum Street
0.32 mi
US 52 South
0.28 mi
Jackie Robinson Drive
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

42.1 mi · 00h 45m

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
01h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.8 mi
91 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greensboro
00h 59m from Durham
Leave By
2:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Durham and Sunny near Salisbury.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 102.8 miles (165.4 km) and usually takes 01h 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?

Greensboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.3 miles from Durham and 51.4 miles from Salisbury.

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

The direct path is about 91 miles (146.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.38 one way or $28.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Greensboro

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

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

RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

4 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

High Point

23 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Burlington

32 mi away
101 North Main Street
BUS

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

39 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Durham and Salisbury. Straight-line distance: 91.04 mi (146.51 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
Salisbury

#2 Salisbury

City in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States

Population33,821
Coordinates35.6709700, -80.4742300
Altitude234
CountryUnited States
Start: Durham (-78.89862, 35.99403)
End: Salisbury (-80.47423, 35.67097)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 165 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.63 gal
13.73 L · about $14.38
Round trip
$28.76
7.26 gal · 27.46 L
Estimated CO2
32.3 kg one way
Round trip: 64.5 kg / 142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.38 $28.76
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.08 $32.15
Premium $4.78 $17.34 $34.69
Diesel $5.62 $20.42 $40.83

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 Salisbury. The current time is 09:10:59.

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.