How far is Raleigh, NC from Waxhaw, NC?

The driving distance from Raleigh, NC to Waxhaw, NC is about 155.2 miles (249.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.3 miles (212.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 50m 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
155.17 mi
03h 25m
Flight
132.28 mi
212.88 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
132.28 mi
Kilometers
212.88 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.17 mi
Kilometers
249.73 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 03h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waxhaw
Thu, Apr 23, 7:24 AM EDT
Return by in Raleigh
Thu, Apr 23, 10:49 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Raleigh
2026-04-23T03:59
Arrive Waxhaw
Thu, Apr 23, 7:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:25 AM to 11:25 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:10 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
Hoffman
NC

Human settlement in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Raleigh
77.5 mi
01h 42m
To Waxhaw
77.7 mi
01h 42m

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
86°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East South Street

    571 ft · 27 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

    3.3 mi · 6 min · Western Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left

    1727 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    47.9 mi · 55 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    3281 ft · 47 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    43.4 mi · 53 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Green Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Green Street

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Broad Avenue

    15.5 mi · 21 min · Broad Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on East Caswell Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · East Caswell Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Salisbury Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Salisbury Street

  13. 13

    Continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.5 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on W. Cliff Martin Highway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · W. Cliff Martin Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on East Marshville Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 5 min · East Marshville Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Carroll M. Edwards Highway

    2247 ft · 35 sec · Carroll M. Edwards Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on US 74 West: Wingate, Monroe

    6.7 mi · 11 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Franklin Street

  20. 20

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2321 ft · 57 sec · East Jefferson Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Charlotte Avenue

    80 m · 9 sec · North Charlotte Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West Franklin Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Franklin Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Waxhaw Highway

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Waxhaw Highway

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Waxhaw Highway

    21 m · 1 sec · Waxhaw Highway

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Waxhaw Highway

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Waxhaw Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on East South Main Street

    2495 ft · 42 sec · East South Main Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
27 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Boulevard
95.5 mi · 62%
Broad Avenue
15.5 mi · 10%
W. Cliff Martin Highway
12.8 mi · 8%
Waxhaw Highway
10.3 mi · 7%
US 74 West
6.75 mi · 4%
Carroll M. Edwards Highway
2.92 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Western Boulevard

Merge slight left

47.9 mi · 00h 55m

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
03h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.9 mi
132.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hoffman
01h 42m from Raleigh
Leave By
10:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Raleigh and Sunny near Waxhaw.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 155.2 miles (249.7 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?

Hoffman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.5 miles from Raleigh and 77.7 miles from Waxhaw.

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

The direct path is about 132.3 miles (212.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.9 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 10:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.71 one way or $43.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hoffman

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

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

RAIL

Southern Pines

21 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Hamlet

22 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.
RAIL

Fayetteville

60 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Dillon

70 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Raleigh and Waxhaw. Straight-line distance: 132.28 mi (212.88 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
Waxhaw

#2 Waxhaw

Town in Union County, North Carolina, USA

Population17,987
Coordinates34.9245900, -80.7434000
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Raleigh (-78.63861, 35.7721)
End: Waxhaw (-80.7434, 34.92459)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 250 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.48 gal
20.73 L · about $21.71
Round trip
$43.41
10.96 gal · 41.46 L
Estimated CO2
48.7 kg one way
Round trip: 97.4 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $21.71 $43.41
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.27 $48.54
Premium $4.78 $26.18 $52.37
Diesel $5.62 $30.82 $61.64

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 Waxhaw. The current time is 03:59:25.

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.