How far is Raleigh, NC from Canton, NC?

The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Canton, NC is about 264 miles (424.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 236.3 miles (380.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 25m 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
263.95 mi
05h 12m
Flight
236.29 mi
380.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Raleigh.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
236.29 mi
Kilometers
380.27 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
263.95 mi
Kilometers
424.79 km
Drive Time
05h 12m

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 05h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Canton
Sat, Apr 11, 3:45 AM EDT
Return by in Raleigh
Sat, Apr 11, 8:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Raleigh
2026-04-10T22:33
Arrive Canton
Sat, Apr 11, 3:45 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:13 AM to 1:13 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
6:34 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Raleigh
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
Mocksville
NC

City in Davie County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Raleigh
131.8 mi
02h 36m
To Canton
132.2 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph E
Destination
73°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East South Street

    571 ft · 29 sec · East South Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Salisbury Street

    955 ft · 33 sec · South Salisbury Street

  3. 3

    Turn sharp right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

    2691 ft · 57 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Western Boulevard

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Western Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Gorman Street

    3221 ft · 1 min · Gorman Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Faircloth Street

    2814 ft · 1 min · Faircloth Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Wade Avenue

    2281 ft · 51 sec · Wade Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Wade Avenue

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Dan K. Moore Frwy.

    61.5 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

    153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    15.7 mi · 20 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Candler, East Canton

    910 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Wiggins Road

    621 ft · 15 sec · Wiggins Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Smokey Park Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Smokey Park Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Asheville Highway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Asheville Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Ashville Highway

    763 ft · 19 sec · Ashville Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Church Street

    1186 ft · 55 sec · Church Street

  20. 20

    Turn left

    45 m · 18 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left

    44 m · 11 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
169 mi · 64%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
81.8 mi · 31%
Asheville Highway
3.73 mi · 1%
Wade Avenue
3.71 mi · 1%
Western Boulevard
2.5 mi · 1%
Smokey Park Highway
0.78 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

153 mi · 02h 54m

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
05h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.7 mi
236.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mocksville
02h 36m from Raleigh
Leave By
6:34 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Raleigh and Sunny near Canton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 264 miles (424.8 km) and usually takes 05h 12m 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?

Mocksville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 131.8 miles from Raleigh and 132.2 miles from Canton.

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

The direct path is about 236.3 miles (380.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:34 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.88 one way or $73.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Mocksville

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

26 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

29 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

36 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Canton. Straight-line distance: 236.29 mi (380.27 km).

Raleigh

#1 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
Canton

#2 Canton

Town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States

Population4,369
Coordinates35.5328800, -82.8373600
Altitude797
CountryUnited States
Start: Raleigh (-78.63861, 35.7721)
End: Canton (-82.83736, 35.53288)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 425 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.31 gal
35.26 L · about $36.88
Round trip
$73.75
18.62 gal · 70.52 L
Estimated CO2
82.7 kg one way
Round trip: 165.5 kg / 365 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $36.88 $73.75
Mid-grade $4.43 $41.23 $82.47
Premium $4.78 $44.48 $88.97
Diesel $5.62 $52.36 $104.72

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Raleigh and Canton. The current time is 22:33:08.

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.