How far is Lincolnton, NC from Raleigh, NC?

The driving distance from Lincolnton, NC to Raleigh, NC is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.4 miles (238.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 18m 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
196.71 mi
03h 09m
Flight
148.35 mi
238.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lincolnton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.35 mi
Kilometers
238.75 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.71 mi
Kilometers
316.57 km
Drive Time
03h 09m

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 03h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Raleigh
Fri, Apr 17, 7:52 AM EDT
Return by in Lincolnton
Fri, Apr 17, 11:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincolnton
2026-04-17T04:43
Arrive Raleigh
Fri, Apr 17, 7:52 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lincolnton
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
Archdale
NC

City in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States

From Lincolnton
88.4 mi
01h 34m
To Raleigh
108.4 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph WNW
Destination
91°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lincolnton and Raleigh.

  1. 1

    Start on East Pine Street

    945 ft · 28 sec · East Pine Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Laurel Street

    542 ft · 26 sec · North Laurel Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · East Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    22.7 mi · 35 min

  5. 5

    Continue on West Plaza Drive

    3.1 mi · 5 min · West Plaza Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on Oak Ridge Farm Highway

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Oak Ridge Farm Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Oakridge Farm Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Oakridge Farm Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Mooresville Road

    15.6 mi · 22 min · Mooresville Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Jake Alexander Boulevard West

    2 mi · 3 min · Jake Alexander Boulevard West

  10. 10

    Turn left

    1434 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    12.1 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

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

    32.8 mi · 35 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29, US 70

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Wade Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Faircloth Street

    2810 ft · 1 min · Faircloth Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Gorman Street

    3220 ft · 1 min · Gorman Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Western Boulevard

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Western Boulevard

  20. 20

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

    2789 ft · 1 min · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Wilmington Street

    1048 ft · 43 sec · South Wilmington Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East South Street

    7 m · 1 sec · East South Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East South Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
1 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 29
42.7 mi · 22%
I 85 North
32.8 mi · 17%
I 40 East
30.3 mi · 15%
Mooresville Road
15.6 mi · 8%
Jake Alexander Boulevard West
14.2 mi · 7%
Wade Avenue
3.86 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 29

Keep slight left

36.8 mi · 00h 43m

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
03h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.3 mi
148.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Archdale
01h 34m from Lincolnton
Leave By
10:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lincolnton and Sunny near Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lincolnton to Raleigh?

The road trip is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km) and usually takes 03h 09m 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?

Archdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.4 miles from Lincolnton and 108.4 miles from Raleigh.

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

The direct path is about 148.4 miles (238.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.3 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 10:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.49 one way or $54.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lincolnton and Sunny near Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Archdale

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

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

RAIL

High Point

6 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

21 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

Lexington

27 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
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 Lincolnton and Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 148.35 mi (238.75 km).

Lincolnton

#1 Lincolnton

County seat in North Carolina

Population11,522
Coordinates35.4737500, -81.2545300
Altitude254
CountryUnited States
Raleigh

#2 Raleigh

The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education.

Population474,414
Coordinates35.7721000, -78.6386100
Altitude96
CountryUnited States
Start: East Pine Street (-81.254525, 35.47374)
End: East South Street (-78.638606, 35.772148)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 317 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.94 gal
26.28 L · about $27.49
Round trip
$54.98
13.88 gal · 52.56 L
Estimated CO2
61.7 kg one way
Round trip: 123.4 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.49 $54.98
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.74 $61.47
Premium $4.78 $33.16 $66.32
Diesel $5.62 $39.03 $78.06

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Lincolnton and Raleigh. The current time is 04:43:54.

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.