How far is Raleigh, NC from Elm City, NC?

The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Elm City, NC is about 52.6 miles (84.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.5 miles (70 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 12m 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
52.61 mi
01h 06m
Flight
43.51 mi
70.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Raleigh.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.51 mi
Kilometers
70.03 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.61 mi
Kilometers
84.67 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 01h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elm City
Thu, Apr 23, 8:00 AM EDT
Return by in Raleigh
Thu, Apr 23, 9:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Raleigh
2026-04-23T06:53
Arrive Elm City
Thu, Apr 23, 8:00 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Raleigh
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
Zebulon
NC

City in Pike County, Georgia, United States

From Raleigh
26.3 mi
00h 33m
To Elm City
26.3 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh and Elm City.

  1. 1

    Start on East South Street

    154 m · 21 sec · East South Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Blount Street

    3167 ft · 1 min · South Blount Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Hammond Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Hammond Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    906 ft · 31 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Thomas Bradshaw Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, I 440 East, US 64 East: Rocky Mount

    2.8 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    17.2 mi · 19 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 264 Alternate East: Wilson

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    4.1 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Airport Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Lake Wilson Road

    5 mi · 9 min · Lake Wilson Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Tolsnot Street

    155 m · 11 sec · Tolsnot Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    2207 ft · 51 sec · West Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Parker Street

    14 m · 1 sec · Parker Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Parker Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
36.7 mi · 70%
Lake Wilson Road
5 mi · 9%
Airport Boulevard
2.27 mi · 4%
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
2.15 mi · 4%
Hammond Road
0.89 mi · 2%
South Blount Street
0.6 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight right to continue on I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

17.2 mi · 00h 19m

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
01h 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
43.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Zebulon
00h 33m from Raleigh
Leave By
4:18 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Raleigh and Sunny near Elm City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Raleigh to Elm City?

The road trip is about 52.6 miles (84.7 km) and usually takes 01h 06m 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?

Zebulon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.3 miles from Raleigh and 26.3 miles from Elm City.

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

The direct path is about 43.5 miles (70 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 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 4:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.37 one way or $14.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Raleigh and Sunny near Elm City.

Stop Ideas Near Zebulon

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

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

RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

30 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

33 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

35 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Wilson

38 mi away
401 East Nash Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Elm City. Straight-line distance: 43.51 mi (70.03 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
Elm City

#2 Elm City

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

Population1,296
Coordinates35.8065500, -77.8633200
Altitude41
CountryUnited States
Start: Raleigh (-78.63861, 35.7721)
End: Elm City (-77.86332, 35.80655)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.86 gal
7.03 L · about $7.37
Round trip
$14.73
3.72 gal · 14.06 L
Estimated CO2
16.5 kg one way
Round trip: 33.1 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.37 $14.73
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.24 $16.48
Premium $4.78 $8.89 $17.77
Diesel $5.62 $10.46 $20.92

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Raleigh and Elm City. The current time is 06:53:47.

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.