How far is Raleigh, NC from Cherokee, NC?
The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Cherokee, NC is about 296.4 miles (477 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 263.4 miles (423.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 02m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Raleigh and Cherokee.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh and Cherokee.
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1
Start on East South Street
571 ft · 27 sec · East South Street
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2
Turn left onto South Salisbury Street
955 ft · 33 sec · South Salisbury Street
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3
Turn sharp right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
2691 ft · 57 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
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4
Continue on Western Boulevard
2.5 mi · 4 min · Western Boulevard
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5
Turn right onto Gorman Street
3221 ft · 1 min · Gorman Street
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6
Continue on Faircloth Street
2814 ft · 1 min · Faircloth Street
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7
Turn left onto Wade Avenue
2281 ft · 51 sec · Wade Avenue
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8
Continue on Wade Avenue
3.3 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue
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9
Merge slight left onto Dan K. Moore Frwy.
61.5 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.
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10
Keep slight right
7.7 mi · 9 min
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11
Keep slight right
12.6 mi · 15 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min
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13
Keep slight left
25.5 mi · 32 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta
4.1 mi · 6 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 19: Maggie Valley, Cherokee
23.7 mi · 41 min
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16
Turn right onto Johnson Arch Road
45 m · 7 sec · Johnson Arch Road
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17
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Johnson Arch Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Raleigh and Cherokee.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Raleigh and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Cherokee.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Raleigh to Cherokee?
The road trip is about 296.4 miles (477 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Statesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.6 miles from Raleigh and 148.8 miles from Cherokee.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 263.4 miles (423.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 33 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 7:30 AM EST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.70 one way or $69.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Raleigh and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Cherokee.
Stop Ideas Near Statesville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Statesville.
Kannapolis
Salisbury
Lexington
Charlotte
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Cherokee. Straight-line distance: 263.42 mi (423.93 km).
#1 Raleigh
The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is a major center for business, government, and education.
| Population | 474,414 |
| Coordinates | 35.7721000, -78.6386100 |
| Altitude | 96 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cherokee
Cherokee is a place in North Carolina, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 35.4742700, -83.3148700 |
| Altitude | 605 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cherokee (-83.31487, 35.47427)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 477 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.32 | $34.70 | $69.39 |
| Mid-grade | $3.77 | $39.44 | $78.89 |
| Premium | $4.20 | $43.96 | $87.93 |
| Diesel | $5.47 | $57.16 | $114.33 |
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 · Nov 07, 2026