How far is Morganton, NC from Rocky Mount, NC?

The driving distance from Morganton, NC to Rocky Mount, NC is about 250.5 miles (403.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 218.5 miles (351.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 42m 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
250.49 mi
04h 51m
Flight
218.51 mi
351.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Morganton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
218.51 mi
Kilometers
351.66 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
250.49 mi
Kilometers
403.12 km
Drive Time
04h 51m

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 04h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Mount
Thu, Apr 23, 12:02 AM EDT
Return by in Morganton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:53 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Morganton
2026-04-22T19:11
Arrive Rocky Mount
Thu, Apr 23, 12:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 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
7:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Morganton
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
Sedalia
NC

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

From Morganton
125.1 mi
02h 25m
To Rocky Mount
125.4 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph W
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morganton and Rocky Mount.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    31 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Concord Street

    619 ft · 25 sec · East Concord Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Sterling Street

    938 ft · 43 sec · South Sterling Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on South Sterling Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · South Sterling Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 40: Hickory

    1017 ft · 27 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    106 mi · 2 hr 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  12. 12

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

    2664 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

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

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    33.3 mi · 36 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1089 ft · 27 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Atlantic Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Tarboro Street

    979 ft · 19 sec · Tarboro Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Cokey Road

    68 m · 6 sec · Cokey Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cokey Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Morganton 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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40
106 mi · 42%
I 40 East
76.6 mi · 31%
I 87 North
51 mi · 20%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 4%
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi · 1%
South Sterling Street
2.37 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40

Merge slight left

106 mi · 02h 01m

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
04h 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32 mi
218.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sedalia
02h 25m from Morganton
Leave By
7:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Morganton and Sunny near Rocky Mount.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Morganton to Rocky Mount?

The road trip is about 250.5 miles (403.1 km) and usually takes 04h 51m 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?

Sedalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 125.1 miles from Morganton and 125.4 miles from Rocky Mount.

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

The direct path is about 218.5 miles (351.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 32 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 7:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.02 one way or $70.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Morganton and Sunny near Rocky Mount.

Stop Ideas Near Sedalia

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Sedalia and the surrounding midpoint area.
Burlington City Switchboard
Scenic stop 12.2 mi away

Burlington City Switchboard

Burlington , NC
425 S Lexington Ave, Burlington, NC 27215, United States
Rating 4.0/5 1 reviews Park,City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 14 mi away

Graham City Hall

Graham , NC
201 S Main St #357, Graham, NC 27253
Rating 3.2/5 5 reviews City government office
Burlington Tax Department
Nearby stop 12 mi away

Burlington Tax Department

Burlington , NC
237 West Maple Ave, Burlington, NC 27215
Rating 4.0/5 2 reviews City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sedalia.

RAIL

Burlington

17 mi away
101 North Main Street
RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

19 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

High Point

37 mi away
100 West High St
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Morganton and Rocky Mount. Straight-line distance: 218.51 mi (351.66 km).

Morganton

#1 Morganton

City in Burke County, North Carolina, United States

Population16,625
Coordinates35.7454100, -81.6848200
Altitude352
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: Morganton (-81.68482, 35.74541)
End: Rocky Mount (-77.79053, 35.93821)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 403 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.84 gal
33.46 L · about $35.02
Round trip
$70.03
17.68 gal · 66.92 L
Estimated CO2
78.6 kg one way
Round trip: 157.1 kg / 346 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.02 $70.03
Mid-grade $4.43 $39.15 $78.30
Premium $4.78 $42.24 $84.48
Diesel $5.62 $49.72 $99.43

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Morganton and Rocky Mount. The current time is 19:11:11.

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.