How far is Raleigh, NC from Franklin, NC?
The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Franklin, NC is about 313.3 miles (504.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 269.9 miles (434.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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 17m.
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.
Human settlement in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Raleigh and Franklin.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh and Franklin.
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1
Start on East South Street
571 ft · 29 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
22 mi · 29 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
4.4 mi · 6 min · Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 23 South, US 441 South: Dillsboro, Franklin, Atlanta
2364 ft · 45 sec
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17
Continue straight
16.5 mi · 23 min
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18
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · East Main Street
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19
Continue on Northeast Main Street
2239 ft · 58 sec · Northeast Main Street
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20
Continue on East Main Street
1282 ft · 59 sec · East Main Street
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21
Turn right onto Iotla Street
55 m · 8 sec · Iotla Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Iotla Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Raleigh and Franklin.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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 Sunny near Franklin.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Raleigh to Franklin?
The road trip is about 313.3 miles (504.2 km) and usually takes 06h 17m 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?
Catawba is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.5 miles from Raleigh and 156.8 miles from Franklin.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 269.9 miles (434.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 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 EDT. 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 $43.81 one way or $87.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Raleigh and Sunny near Franklin.
Stop Ideas Near Catawba
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 Catawba.
Kannapolis
Gastonia
Salisbury
Charlotte
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 269.93 mi (434.41 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 Franklin
Town in North Carolina, United States
| Population | 4,121 |
| Coordinates | 35.1823200, -83.3815400 |
| Altitude | 646 |
| Country | United States |
End: Franklin (-83.38154, 35.18232)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 504 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $43.81 | $87.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $48.98 | $97.97 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $52.84 | $105.69 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $62.20 | $124.40 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.