How far is Durham, NC from Surf City, NC?
The driving distance from Durham, NC to Surf City, NC is about 156.8 miles (252.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 132.5 miles (213.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 13m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Township in Sampson County, North Carolina
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Durham and Surf City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham and Surf City.
-
1
Start on East Main Street
1101 ft · 42 sec · East Main Street
-
2
Turn right onto South Dillard Street
864 ft · 30 sec · South Dillard Street
-
3
Turn left onto East Pettigrew Street
800 ft · 25 sec · East Pettigrew Street
-
4
Turn right onto Fayetteville Road
144 m · 22 sec · Fayetteville Road
-
5
Take the ramp left
797 ft · 20 sec
-
6
Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway
6.5 mi · 8 min · Durham Freeway
-
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 East: RDU Airport, Raleigh
1.3 km · 58 sec
-
8
Merge slight right
8.7 mi · 10 min
-
9
Keep slight left
9.5 mi · 11 min
-
10
Continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
8.1 mi · 9 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
-
12
Keep slight left
2.1 mi · 2 min
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on SR 42: Fuquay-Varina, Cleveland Rd
1.7 mi · 2 min
-
14
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
59.6 mi · 1 hr 4 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward NC 24 East, NC 903: Magnolia, Kenansville
1701 ft · 48 sec
-
16
Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass
4.1 mi · 6 min · South Kenansville Bypass
-
17
Turn right onto D S Williams Road
1.5 km · 1 min · D S Williams Road
-
18
Turn right
10.6 mi · 15 min
-
19
Continue straight
1.9 mi · 3 min
-
20
Turn right
3 mi · 4 min
-
21
Continue on Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi · 13 min · Cypress Creek Road
-
22
Turn left onto Sycamore Springs Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Sycamore Springs Road
-
23
Continue on Old Maple Hill Road North
1.4 mi · 2 min · Old Maple Hill Road North
-
24
Turn left
5.1 mi · 8 min
-
25
Turn right
16.6 mi · 24 min
-
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
35 m · 2 sec
-
27
Exit the roundabout
1.3 km · 2 min
-
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North New River Drive
69 m · 5 sec · North New River Drive
-
29
Exit the roundabout onto North New River Drive
38 m · 3 sec · North New River Drive
-
30
Continue on North New River Drive
62 m · 10 sec · North New River Drive
-
31
Turn left onto Roland Avenue
33 m · 12 sec · Roland Avenue
-
32
Continue on Roland Avenue
23 m · 2 sec · Roland Avenue
-
33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Roland Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Durham and Surf City.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 40 East
Merge slight left onto I 40 East: Benson, Wilmington
59.6 mi · 01h 04m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Durham and Sunny near Surf City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Durham to Surf City?
The road trip is about 156.8 miles (252.4 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?
Keener is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.4 miles from Durham and 78.4 miles from Surf City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 132.5 miles (213.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 $21.90 one way or $43.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Durham and Sunny near Surf City.
Stop Ideas Near Keener
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Keener.
Goldsboro, NC
Selma–Smithfield
Fayetteville
Kinston, NC
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Durham and Surf City. Straight-line distance: 132.48 mi (213.2 km).
#1 Durham
The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Durham metropolitan area.
| Population | 285,897 |
| Coordinates | 35.9940300, -78.8986200 |
| Altitude | 123 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Surf City
Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey
| Population | 2,532 |
| Coordinates | 34.4271100, -77.5460800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
End: Surf City (-77.54608, 34.42711)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 252 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $21.90 | $43.81 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $24.49 | $48.98 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $26.42 | $52.84 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $31.10 | $62.20 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.