How far is Durham, NC from Washington, NC?

The driving distance from Durham, NC to Washington, NC is about 126.8 miles (204 km), with a travel time of about 02h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 108.1 miles (173.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 04m 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
126.75 mi
02h 32m
Flight
108.03 mi
173.86 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
108.03 mi
Kilometers
173.86 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
126.75 mi
Kilometers
203.99 km
Drive Time
02h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 7:29 AM EDT
Return by in Durham
Sat, Apr 18, 10:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Durham
2026-04-18T04:57
Arrive Washington
Sat, Apr 18, 7:29 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:32 AM to 12:32 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:26 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
Sims
NC

Human settlement in Wilson County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Durham
63.3 mi
01h 16m
To Washington
63.4 mi
01h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
93°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph S
Destination
93°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1101 ft · 42 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Dillard Street

    144 m · 17 sec · South Dillard Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Ramseur Street

    889 ft · 26 sec · Ramseur Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Fayetteville Road

    954 ft · 36 sec · Fayetteville Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left

    797 ft · 20 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Durham Freeway

    2 mi · 3 min · Durham Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 885 North: Greensboro, Petersburg

    3051 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto East End Connector

    1951 ft · 26 sec · East End Connector

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70 East: Raleigh

    2088 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto South Miami Boulevard

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Miami Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on New Raleigh Highway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · New Raleigh Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Glenwood Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Avenue

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 540: Wake Forest, RDU Airport

    649 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 540 East: Wake Forest

    1.6 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway

    21.2 mi · 23 min · Northern Wake Expressway

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    13.2 mi · 14 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    55.9 mi · 1 hr

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Stantonsburg Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Stantonsburg Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Memorial Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · South Memorial Drive

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Airport Road

    1941 ft · 40 sec · Airport Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Mumford Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Mumford Road

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Pactolus Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Pactolus Highway

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    17.8 mi · 24 min

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northern Wake Expressway
90.3 mi · 71%
Pactolus Highway
18.6 mi · 15%
New Raleigh Highway
2.58 mi · 2%
Stantonsburg Road
2.46 mi · 2%
South Memorial Drive
1.99 mi · 2%
Durham Freeway
1.97 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Northern Wake Expressway

Keep slight right

55.9 mi · 01h 00m

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 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.7 mi
108.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sims
01h 16m from Durham
Leave By
1:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Durham and Sunny near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 126.8 miles (204 km) and usually takes 02h 32m 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?

Sims is a useful midpoint, sitting about 63.3 miles from Durham and 63.4 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 108.1 miles (173.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.7 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 1:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.71 one way or $35.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Durham and Sunny near Washington.

Stop Ideas Near Sims

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

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

RAIL

Wilson

14 mi away
401 East Nash Street
RAIL

Rocky Mount

31 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

32 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

43 mi away
1615 East Beech Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Durham and Washington. Straight-line distance: 108.03 mi (173.86 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
Washington

#2 Washington

City in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population9,487
Coordinates35.5465500, -77.0521700
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Durham (-78.89862, 35.99403)
End: Washington (-77.05217, 35.54655)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 204 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.47 gal
16.93 L · about $17.71
Round trip
$35.41
8.94 gal · 33.86 L
Estimated CO2
39.7 kg one way
Round trip: 79.4 kg / 175 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $17.71 $35.41
Mid-grade $4.43 $19.80 $39.60
Premium $4.78 $21.36 $42.72
Diesel $5.62 $25.14 $50.28

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Durham and Washington. The current time is 04:57:11.

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.