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

The driving distance from Matthews, NC to West Raleigh, NC is about 146.5 miles (235.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 124.8 miles (200.9 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
146.43 mi
02h 44m
Flight
124.83 mi
200.89 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Matthews.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
124.83 mi
Kilometers
200.89 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
146.43 mi
Kilometers
235.65 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 West Raleigh
Sat, Sep 19, 12:40 AM EDT
Return by in Matthews
Sat, Sep 19, 3:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Matthews
2026-09-18T21:55
Arrive West Raleigh
Sat, Sep 19, 12:40 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 Matthews
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
Hoffman
NC

Human settlement in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Matthews
77.5 mi
01h 22m
To West Raleigh
68.9 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Tonight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Sep 18 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph N
Destination
95°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Sep 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Freemont Street

    4 m · 6 sec · North Freemont Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West John Street

    149 m · 24 sec · West John Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Trade Street

    1077 ft · 25 sec · North Trade Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Matthews Street

    656 ft · 13 sec · East Matthews Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Matthews-Mint Hill Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Matthews-Mint Hill Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Independence Boulevard

    2 mi · 3 min · East Independence Boulevard

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Monroe Expressway

    18.7 mi · 22 min · Monroe Expressway

  8. 8

    Merge slight right onto Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    1804 ft · 28 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on West Marshville Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 5 min · West Marshville Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.1 mi · 8 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.7 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  14. 14

    Continue on West Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Caswell Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    10.2 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 73 North, I 74 West, US 74 Business East: Rockingham, Asheboro

    5.3 mi · 8 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Green Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · West Green Street

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Fayetteville Road

    43.4 mi · 53 min · Fayetteville Road

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    3251 ft · 43 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    48 mi · 55 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary

    1683 ft · 41 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Western Boulevard: NC State Univ, Cary

    136 m · 10 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Western Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Western Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Pullen Road

    2294 ft · 1 min · Pullen Road

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pullen Road

    19 m · 2 sec · Pullen Road

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Pullen Road

    717 ft · 26 sec · Pullen Road

  27. 27

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hillsborough Street

    62 m · 7 sec · Hillsborough Street

  28. 28

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    153 m · 15 sec · Hillsborough Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Enterprise Street

    13 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
30 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Fayetteville Road
91.9 mi · 63%
Monroe Expressway
18.7 mi · 13%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi · 9%
Andrew Jackson Highway
10.2 mi · 7%
I 73 North
5.34 mi · 4%
West Marshville Boulevard
2.88 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Fayetteville Road

Merge slight left

48 mi · 00h 55m

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
+21.7 mi
124.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hoffman
01h 22m from Matthews
Leave By
1:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Matthews and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near West Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 146.5 miles (235.7 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?

Hoffman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.5 miles from Matthews and 68.9 miles from West Raleigh.

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

The direct path is about 124.8 miles (200.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.7 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 1:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.50 one way or $43.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Matthews and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near West Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Hoffman

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

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

RAIL

Southern Pines

21 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Hamlet

22 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Fayetteville

60 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Dillon

70 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Matthews and West Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 124.83 mi (200.89 km).

Matthews

#1 Matthews

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population33,718
Coordinates35.1168100, -80.7236800
Altitude222
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 John Street (-80.723706, 35.116781)
End: Enterprise Street (-78.664028, 35.786823)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 236 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.17 gal
19.56 L · about $21.50
Round trip
$43.00
10.34 gal · 39.12 L
Estimated CO2
45.9 kg one way
Round trip: 91.9 kg / 203 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.16 $21.50 $43.00
Mid-grade $4.61 $23.83 $47.67
Premium $5.01 $25.88 $51.76
Diesel $6.19 $32.01 $64.03

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Matthews and West Raleigh. The current time is 21:55:59.

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.