How far is Kinston, NC from West Raleigh, NC?

The driving distance from Kinston, NC to West Raleigh, NC is about 82.6 miles (133 km), with a travel time of about 01h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 70.8 miles (114 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 57m 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
82.66 mi
01h 28m
Flight
70.82 mi
113.97 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kinston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
70.82 mi
Kilometers
113.97 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
82.66 mi
Kilometers
133.03 km
Drive Time
01h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Raleigh
Wed, Sep 23, 12:34 PM EDT
Return by in Kinston
Wed, Sep 23, 2:03 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kinston
2026-09-23T11:06
Arrive West Raleigh
Wed, Sep 23, 12:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kinston
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
Princeton
NC

Town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States

From Kinston
41.4 mi
00h 44m
To West Raleigh
41.2 mi
00h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Cloudy then Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NE
Destination
64°F
Overnight

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Kinston and West Raleigh.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kinston and West Raleigh.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    31 m · 13 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Walls Street

    51 m · 10 sec · Walls Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West North Street

    75 m · 18 sec · West North Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Herritage Street

    1290 ft · 50 sec · North Herritage Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Old Pink Hill Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Old Pink Hill Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West New Bern Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West New Bern Road

  7. 7

    Continue on West Vernon Avenue

    1.6 mi · 2 min · West Vernon Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    9.6 mi · 11 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Goldsboro Bypass

    20.2 mi · 22 min · Goldsboro Bypass

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    10.4 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    10.1 mi · 13 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

    10 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh Downtown

    1349 ft · 31 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto South Saunders Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Saunders Street

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Western Boulevard

    1458 ft · 44 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

    1268 ft · 26 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

  20. 20

    Continue on Western Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Western Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Pullen Road

    131 m · 11 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Pullen Road

    1917 ft · 1 min · Pullen Road

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pullen Road

    19 m · 2 sec · Pullen Road

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Pullen Road

    717 ft · 26 sec · Pullen Road

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hillsborough Street

    62 m · 7 sec · Hillsborough Street

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    153 m · 15 sec · Hillsborough Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Enterprise Street

    13 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kinston and West Raleigh.

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
28 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Goldsboro Bypass
43.8 mi · 53%
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
20.7 mi · 25%
West Vernon Avenue
11.2 mi · 14%
West New Bern Road
2.06 mi · 2%
Western Boulevard
1.25 mi · 2%
Old Pink Hill Road
1.14 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Goldsboro Bypass

Continue on Goldsboro Bypass

20.2 mi · 00h 22m

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 28m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.8 mi
70.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Princeton
00h 44m from Kinston
Leave By
3:32 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Cloudy then Chance Light Rain leaving Kinston and Chance Light Rain near West Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kinston to West Raleigh?

The road trip is about 82.6 miles (133 km) and usually takes 01h 28m 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?

Princeton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 41.4 miles from Kinston and 41.2 miles from West Raleigh.

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

The direct path is about 70.8 miles (114 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:32 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.05 one way or $24.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Cloudy then Chance Light Rain around Kinston and Chance Light Rain near West Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Princeton

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

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

RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

13 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

20 mi away
1615 East Beech Street
RAIL

Wilson

37 mi away
401 East Nash Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

56 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kinston and West Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 70.82 mi (113.97 km).

Kinston

#1 Kinston

City in North Carolina, United States of America

Population19,849
Coordinates35.2626600, -77.5816400
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 West Raleigh

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

Population338,759
Coordinates35.7868200, -78.6638900
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Start: West North Street (-77.581647, 35.262406)
End: Enterprise Street (-78.664028, 35.786823)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 133 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.92 gal
11.04 L · about $12.05
Round trip
$24.11
5.84 gal · 22.08 L
Estimated CO2
26 kg one way
Round trip: 51.9 kg / 114 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.13 $12.05 $24.11
Mid-grade $4.57 $13.35 $26.71
Premium $4.98 $14.53 $29.07
Diesel $6.23 $18.20 $36.41

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 · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Kinston and West Raleigh. The current time is 11:06:04.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.