How far is Durham, NC from Wendell, NC?

The driving distance from Durham, NC to Wendell, NC is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.1 miles (53.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m 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
37.8 mi
00h 54m
Flight
33.06 mi
53.21 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
33.06 mi
Kilometers
53.21 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.8 mi
Kilometers
60.83 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 00h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wendell
Thu, Apr 23, 6:46 AM EDT
Return by in Durham
Thu, Apr 23, 7:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Durham
2026-04-23T05:51
Arrive Wendell
Thu, Apr 23, 6:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:42 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
West Raleigh
NC

A census-designated place located in Wake County, North Carolina.

From Durham
18.9 mi
00h 27m
To Wendell
18.9 mi
00h 27m

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
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1101 ft · 42 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Dillard Street

    864 ft · 30 sec · South Dillard Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Pettigrew Street

    800 ft · 25 sec · East Pettigrew Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Fayetteville Road

    144 m · 22 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

    15 mi · 16 min · Northern Wake Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1382 ft · 42 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Buffaloe Road

    4 mi · 7 min · Buffaloe Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Horton Road

    2386 ft · 46 sec · Horton Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Marks Creek Road

    2050 ft · 46 sec · Marks Creek Road

  20. 20

    Turn sharp right onto Rolesville Road

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Rolesville Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Wendell Boulevard

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Wendell Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1213 ft · 57 sec · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street

    12 m · 2 sec · East 3rd Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
63.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northern Wake Expressway
15.3 mi · 40%
Buffaloe Road
4.01 mi · 11%
Wendell Boulevard
3.33 mi · 9%
Rolesville Road
2.78 mi · 7%
New Raleigh Highway
2.58 mi · 7%
Durham Freeway
1.97 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Northern Wake Expressway

Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway

15 mi · 00h 16m

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
00h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.7 mi
33.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Raleigh
00h 27m from Durham
Leave By
4:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Durham and Sunny near Wendell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km) and usually takes 00h 54m 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?

West Raleigh is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.9 miles from Durham and 18.9 miles from Wendell.

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

The direct path is about 33.1 miles (53.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.7 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 4:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.27 one way or $10.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near West Raleigh

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around West Raleigh and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 4.7 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Raleigh , NC
13100 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614
Rating 4.6/5 86 reviews Restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 13.6 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall
Practical stop 12.4 mi away

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Morrisville - Town Hall

Morrisville , NC
101 Morrisville Square Way Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
Rating 4.7/5 26 reviews Learning center,After school program,Tutoring service
Town of Cary
Meeting point 11.4 mi away

Town of Cary

Cary , NC
316 N Academy St, Cary, NC 27513
Rating 3.5/5 26 reviews Association or organization,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Raleigh.

RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

2 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

4 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Cary

10 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

Durham

32 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Durham and Wendell. Straight-line distance: 33.06 mi (53.21 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
Wendell

#2 Wendell

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population9,387
Coordinates35.7809900, -78.3697200
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: Durham (-78.89862, 35.99403)
End: Wendell (-78.36972, 35.78099)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.05 L · about $5.27
Round trip
$10.54
2.66 gal · 10.1 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $5.27 $10.54
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.89 $11.78
Premium $4.78 $6.35 $12.71
Diesel $5.62 $7.48 $14.96

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 Wendell. The current time is 05:51:57.

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.