How far is Elizabeth City, NC from Durham, NC?

The driving distance from Elizabeth City, NC to Durham, NC is about 182.4 miles (293.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 153.4 miles (246.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 29m 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
182.4 mi
02h 44m
Flight
153.42 mi
246.9 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabeth City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
153.42 mi
Kilometers
246.9 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.4 mi
Kilometers
293.54 km
Drive Time
02h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Durham
Sun, Apr 19, 3:19 AM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 6:04 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth City
2026-04-19T00:34
Arrive Durham
Sun, Apr 19, 3:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth City
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
Lexington
NC

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

From Elizabeth City
90.5 mi
01h 22m
To Durham
91.9 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW
Destination
80°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City and Durham.

  1. 1

    Start on Crystal Lane

    129 m · 21 sec · Crystal Lane

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Post Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Post Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Marion Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East Marion Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Dixon Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · East Dixon Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

    572 ft · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

    59.4 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greensboro, High Point

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Durham

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Durham Freeway

    5.2 mi · 7 min · Durham Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Mangum Street, Roxboro Street

    156 m · 13 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Morehead Avenue

    854 ft · 29 sec · Morehead Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Roxboro Street

    1963 ft · 59 sec · South Roxboro Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    30 m · 2 sec · East Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cameron Morrison Bridge
59.4 mi · 33%
I 85 North
43 mi · 24%
US 29
42.7 mi · 23%
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi · 10%
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.82 mi · 4%
Durham Freeway
5.21 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Cameron Morrison Bridge

Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

59.4 mi · 01h 09m

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 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29 mi
153.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lexington
01h 22m from Elizabeth City
Leave By
1:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Elizabeth City and Chance Rain Showers near Durham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabeth City to Durham?

The road trip is about 182.4 miles (293.5 km) and usually takes 02h 44m 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?

Lexington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.5 miles from Elizabeth City and 91.9 miles from Durham.

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

The direct path is about 153.4 miles (246.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 29 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 1:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.51 one way or $51.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Elizabeth City and Chance Rain Showers near Durham.

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 Elizabeth City and Durham. Straight-line distance: 153.42 mi (246.9 km).

Elizabeth City

#1 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,751
Coordinates35.2929100, -81.4912000
Altitude284
CountryUnited States
Durham

#2 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
Start: Crystal Lane (-81.491032, 35.293361)
End: (-78.898591, 35.994064)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 294 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.44 gal
24.36 L · about $25.51
Round trip
$51.02
12.88 gal · 48.72 L
Estimated CO2
57.2 kg one way
Round trip: 114.5 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.51 $51.02
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.52 $57.05
Premium $4.78 $30.77 $61.54
Diesel $5.62 $36.22 $72.44

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 Elizabeth City and Durham. The current time is 00:34:50.

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.