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

The driving distance from Mount Airy, NC to Rocky Mount, NC is about 193.9 miles (312 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 161.7 miles (260.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 34m 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
193.87 mi
03h 47m
Flight
161.72 mi
260.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mount Airy.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
161.72 mi
Kilometers
260.26 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
193.87 mi
Kilometers
312 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Mount
Sun, Apr 19, 10:08 AM EDT
Return by in Mount Airy
Sun, Apr 19, 1:55 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mount Airy
2026-04-19T06:21
Arrive Rocky Mount
Sun, Apr 19, 10:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 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
9:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mount Airy
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Hillsborough
NC

Town in and county seat of Orange County, North Carolina, United States

From Mount Airy
96.8 mi
01h 53m
To Rocky Mount
97.1 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph NW
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Pine Street

    21 m · 5 sec · West Pine Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1 km · 2 min · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on South Main Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Andy Griffith Parkway

    23.3 mi · 26 min · South Andy Griffith Parkway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on NC 74 East

    13.3 mi · 16 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on US 421 South: Greensboro

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Salem Parkway

  8. 8

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

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  13. 13

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

    2664 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  15. 15

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

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    33.3 mi · 36 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    1089 ft · 27 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Atlantic Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Tarboro Street

    979 ft · 19 sec · Tarboro Street

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Cokey Road

    68 m · 6 sec · Cokey Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cokey Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mount Airy 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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
76.6 mi · 40%
I 87 North
51 mi · 26%
South Andy Griffith Parkway
23.3 mi · 12%
NC 74 East
13.3 mi · 7%
Salem Parkway
11.4 mi · 6%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

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 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.2 mi
161.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillsborough
01h 53m from Mount Airy
Leave By
9:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Mount Airy and Rain Showers Likely near Rocky Mount.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 193.9 miles (312 km) and usually takes 03h 47m 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?

Hillsborough is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.8 miles from Mount Airy and 97.1 miles from Rocky Mount.

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

The direct path is about 161.7 miles (260.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.2 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 9:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.09 one way or $54.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Mount Airy and Rain Showers Likely near Rocky Mount.

Stop Ideas Near Hillsborough

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

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

RAIL

Durham

19 mi away
400 W. Chapel Hill Street
RAIL

Burlington

30 mi away
101 North Main Street
RAIL

Cary

43 mi away
211 North Academy Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

47 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mount Airy and Rocky Mount. Straight-line distance: 161.72 mi (260.26 km).

Mount Airy

#1 Mount Airy

City in Surry County, North Carolina, United States

Population10,175
Coordinates36.4993000, -80.6072900
Altitude335
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: Mount Airy (-80.60729, 36.4993)
End: Rocky Mount (-77.79053, 35.93821)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 312 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.84 gal
25.9 L · about $27.09
Round trip
$54.19
13.68 gal · 51.8 L
Estimated CO2
60.8 kg one way
Round trip: 121.6 kg / 268 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.09 $54.19
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.29 $60.59
Premium $4.78 $32.68 $65.36
Diesel $5.62 $38.47 $76.94

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Mount Airy and Rocky Mount. The current time is 06:21:25.

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.