How far is Elizabeth City, NC from Rocky Mount, NC?

The driving distance from Elizabeth City, NC to Rocky Mount, NC is about 261.4 miles (420.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 03m 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
261.39 mi
05h 01m
Flight
212.58 mi
342.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabeth City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
212.58 mi
Kilometers
342.11 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
261.39 mi
Kilometers
420.66 km
Drive Time
05h 01m

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 05h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Mount
Sun, Apr 19, 5:32 AM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 10:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth City
2026-04-19T00:30
Arrive Rocky Mount
Sun, Apr 19, 5:32 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 1:02 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:56 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth City
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
Greensboro
NC

The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Greensboro metropolitan area.

From Elizabeth City
130.6 mi
02h 30m
To Rocky Mount
130.8 mi
02h 30m

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
77°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City and Rocky Mount.

  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 right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest

    2664 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    33.3 mi · 36 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right

    1089 ft · 27 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Atlantic Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Tarboro Street

    979 ft · 19 sec · Tarboro Street

  24. 24

    Turn slight right onto Cokey Road

    68 m · 6 sec · Cokey Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cokey Road

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cameron Morrison Bridge
59.4 mi · 23%
I 87 North
51 mi · 20%
US 29
42.7 mi · 16%
I 85 North
33.6 mi · 13%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 12%
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi · 7%
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 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
05h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.8 mi
212.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greensboro
02h 30m from Elizabeth City
Leave By
6:56 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Elizabeth City and Rain Showers Likely near Rocky Mount.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabeth City to Rocky Mount?

The road trip is about 261.4 miles (420.7 km) and usually takes 05h 01m 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?

Greensboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.6 miles from Elizabeth City and 130.8 miles from Rocky Mount.

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

The direct path is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.8 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 6:56 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.52 one way or $73.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Elizabeth City and Rain Showers Likely near Rocky Mount.

Stop Ideas Near Greensboro

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

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

RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

4 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

High Point

23 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Burlington

32 mi away
101 North Main Street
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabeth City and Rocky Mount. Straight-line distance: 212.58 mi (342.11 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
Rocky Mount

#2 Rocky Mount

The most populous city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

Population53,689
Coordinates35.9382100, -77.7905300
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabeth City (-81.4912, 35.29291)
End: Rocky Mount (-77.79053, 35.93821)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 421 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.22 gal
34.91 L · about $36.52
Round trip
$73.04
18.44 gal · 69.82 L
Estimated CO2
81.9 kg one way
Round trip: 163.9 kg / 361 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.52 $73.04
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.84 $81.67
Premium $4.78 $44.05 $88.11
Diesel $5.62 $51.85 $103.71

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 Rocky Mount. The current time is 00:30:33.

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.