How far is Durham, NC from South Gastonia, NC?

The driving distance from Durham, NC to South Gastonia, NC is about 164.3 miles (264.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.2 miles (225.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 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
164.27 mi
03h 12m
Flight
140.21 mi
225.65 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Durham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
140.21 mi
Kilometers
225.65 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.27 mi
Kilometers
264.36 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:25 AM EDT
Return by in Durham
Sun, Apr 19, 10:38 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Durham
2026-04-19T04:13
Arrive South Gastonia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:34 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Durham
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
Lexington
NC

City in and county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States

From Durham
82.1 mi
01h 36m
To South Gastonia
82.2 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph W
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Durham and South Gastonia.

  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

    99.4 mi · 1 hr 52 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 7: East Gastonia

    858 ft · 29 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Ozark Avenue

    3206 ft · 1 min · East Ozark Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on East Long Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Long Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Chester Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Chester Street

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto South York Street

    1186 ft · 22 sec · South York Street

  15. 15

    Continue on South York Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · South York Road

  16. 16

    Continue on York Highway

    1298 ft · 24 sec · York Highway

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Davis Park Road

    1677 ft · 46 sec · Davis Park Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Weston Avenue

    772 ft · 34 sec · Weston Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Becky Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
105 mi · 64%
Durham Freeway
53.3 mi · 32%
South York Road
1.58 mi · 1%
East Long Avenue
1.25 mi · 1%
North Chester Street
1.11 mi · 1%
East Ozark Avenue
0.61 mi
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

99.4 mi · 01h 52m

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
03h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.1 mi
140.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lexington
01h 36m from Durham
Leave By
10:34 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Durham and Chance Rain Showers near South Gastonia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Durham to South Gastonia?

The road trip is about 164.3 miles (264.4 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Lexington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.1 miles from Durham and 82.2 miles from South Gastonia.

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

The direct path is about 140.2 miles (225.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.1 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 10:34 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.97 one way or $45.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Durham and Chance Rain Showers near South Gastonia.

Stop Ideas Near Lexington

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

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

RAIL

Lexington

Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

Salisbury

25 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

High Point

27 mi away
100 West High St
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Durham and South Gastonia. Straight-line distance: 140.21 mi (225.65 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
South Gastonia

#2 South Gastonia

Unincorporated community

Population5,312
Coordinates35.2193000, -81.2056300
Altitude221
CountryUnited States
Start: Durham (-78.89862, 35.99403)
End: South Gastonia (-81.20563, 35.2193)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 264 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.8 gal
21.94 L · about $22.97
Round trip
$45.95
11.6 gal · 43.88 L
Estimated CO2
51.5 kg one way
Round trip: 103.1 kg / 227 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.97 $45.95
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.69 $51.38
Premium $4.78 $27.71 $55.42
Diesel $5.62 $32.62 $65.24

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Durham and South Gastonia. The current time is 04:13:05.

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.