How far is Raleigh, NC from Southern Shores, NC?

The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Southern Shores, NC is about 210.9 miles (339.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.5 miles (264.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 47m 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
210.89 mi
04h 23m
Flight
164.55 mi
264.81 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
164.55 mi
Kilometers
264.81 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
210.89 mi
Kilometers
339.39 km
Drive Time
04h 23m

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 04h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Southern Shores
Sun, May 31, 3:29 AM EDT
Return by in Raleigh
Sun, May 31, 7:53 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Raleigh
2026-05-30T23:05
Arrive Southern Shores
Sun, May 31, 3:29 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:24 AM to 12:24 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
8:12 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
Williamston
NC

City in North Carolina

From Raleigh
105.3 mi
02h 11m
To Southern Shores
105.6 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
Southern Shores Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
77°F
Saturday
Using Manteo as the closest live forecast in the Dare County weather hub.

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 26 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh and Southern Shores.

  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 left

    79.6 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  9. 9

    Turn right

    20.2 mi · 29 min

  10. 10

    Continue on United States Highway 64 East

    1 mi · 2 min · United States Highway 64 East

  11. 11

    Continue on U.S. Highway 64 East

    2.3 mi · 3 min · U.S. Highway 64 East

  12. 12

    Continue on United States Highway 64 East

    39.5 mi · 47 min · United States Highway 64 East

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    26.2 mi · 36 min

  14. 14

    Continue on South Virginia Dare Trail

    157 m · 11 sec · South Virginia Dare Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on South Croatan Highway

    14.9 mi · 24 min · South Croatan Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    82 m · 8 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Ocean Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Ocean Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Duck Road

    1.5 mi · 5 min · Duck Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 3rd Avenue

    1195 ft · 58 sec · 3rd Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on 3rd Avenue

    78 m · 16 sec · 3rd Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
99.5 mi · 47%
United States Highway 64 East
66.8 mi · 32%
South Croatan Highway
14.9 mi · 7%
U.S. Highway 64 East
2.29 mi · 1%
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
2.15 mi · 1%
Ocean Boulevard
1.53 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight left

79.6 mi · 01h 26m

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
04h 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.4 mi
164.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Williamston
02h 11m from Raleigh
Leave By
8:12 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Raleigh and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Southern Shores.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Raleigh to Southern Shores?

The road trip is about 210.9 miles (339.4 km) and usually takes 04h 23m 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?

Williamston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.3 miles from Raleigh and 105.6 miles from Southern Shores.

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

The direct path is about 164.5 miles (264.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.4 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:12 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.47 one way or $58.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Raleigh and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Southern Shores.

Stop Ideas Near Williamston

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

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

BUS

Greenville, NC

39 mi away
Second and Reade Streets
RAIL

Rocky Mount

68 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Wilson

78 mi away
401 East Nash Street
BUS

Kinston, NC

83 mi away
101 East New Bern Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Southern Shores. Straight-line distance: 164.55 mi (264.81 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
Southern Shores

#2 Southern Shores

Town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States

Population2,997
Coordinates36.1390500, -75.7315700
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Raleigh (-78.63861, 35.7721)
End: Southern Shores (-75.73157, 36.13905)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 339 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.44 gal
28.17 L · about $29.47
Round trip
$58.94
14.88 gal · 56.34 L
Estimated CO2
66.1 kg one way
Round trip: 132.2 kg / 291 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.47 $58.94
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.95 $65.90
Premium $4.78 $35.55 $71.10
Diesel $5.62 $41.84 $83.69

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Raleigh and Southern Shores. The current time is 23:05:43.

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.