How far is Fayetteville, NC from Clayton, NC?

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Clayton, NC is about 55.4 miles (89.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 47.7 miles (76.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 21m 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
55.34 mi
01h 10m
Flight
47.68 mi
76.73 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
47.68 mi
Kilometers
76.73 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.34 mi
Kilometers
89.06 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

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 01h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clayton
Fri, May 1, 3:00 PM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Fri, May 1, 4:11 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-05-01T13:50
Arrive Clayton
Fri, May 1, 3:00 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
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
Dunn
NC

City in North Carolina

From Fayetteville
27.7 mi
00h 35m
To Clayton
27.7 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Friday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph E
Destination
71°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fayetteville and Clayton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville and Clayton.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    80 m · 6 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Person Street

    1170 ft · 21 sec · Person Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Person Street

    1647 ft · 30 sec · Person Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward B Street

    37 m · 2 sec · B Street

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto B Street

    1681 ft · 37 sec · B Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Grove Street

    938 ft · 25 sec · Grove Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Eastern Boulevard

    30.8 mi · 36 min · North Eastern Boulevard

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington

    1480 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Raleigh

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    14.2 mi · 15 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on NC 42: Fuquay-Varina

    1 mi · 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 42: Clayton, Fuquay-Varina

    1042 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on NC 42 East: Clayton

    713 ft · 19 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Veterans Parkway

    6.3 mi · 11 min · Veterans Parkway

  15. 15

    Continue on South Lombard Street

    2602 ft · 2 min · South Lombard Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Lombard Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fayetteville and Clayton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Eastern Boulevard
30.8 mi · 56%
I 40 West
15 mi · 27%
Veterans Parkway
6.27 mi · 11%
NC 42
1.23 mi · 2%
Person Street
0.53 mi · 1%
South Lombard Street
0.49 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Eastern Boulevard

Turn left onto North Eastern Boulevard

30.8 mi · 00h 36m

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
01h 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.7 mi
47.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dunn
00h 35m from Fayetteville
Leave By
4:08 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Fayetteville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Clayton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fayetteville to Clayton?

The road trip is about 55.4 miles (89.1 km) and usually takes 01h 10m 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?

Dunn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.7 miles from Fayetteville and 27.7 miles from Clayton.

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

The direct path is about 47.7 miles (76.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.7 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 4:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.72 one way or $15.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Fayetteville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Clayton.

Stop Ideas Near Dunn

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

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

RAIL

Fayetteville

38 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

39 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

52 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

55 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 47.68 mi (76.73 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Clayton

#2 Clayton

Town in North Carolina

Population26,458
Coordinates35.6507100, -78.4563900
Altitude104
CountryUnited States
Start: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Clayton (-78.45639, 35.65071)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.95 gal
7.39 L · about $7.72
Round trip
$15.45
3.9 gal · 14.78 L
Estimated CO2
17.3 kg one way
Round trip: 34.7 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.72 $15.45
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.64 $17.27
Premium $4.78 $9.32 $18.63
Diesel $5.62 $10.97 $21.93

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Fayetteville and Clayton. The current time is 13:50:04.

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.