How far is Rocky Mount, NC from Elizabeth City, NC?

The driving distance from Rocky Mount, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 256.4 miles (412.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 02m 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
256.38 mi
05h 01m
Flight
212.58 mi
342.11 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rocky Mount.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
212.58 mi
Kilometers
342.11 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.38 mi
Kilometers
412.61 km
Drive Time
05h 01m

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 05h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:01 AM EDT
Return by in Rocky Mount
Sun, Apr 19, 12:02 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rocky Mount
2026-04-19T01:59
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:01 AM to 1:01 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
6:58 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rocky Mount
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
Greensboro
NC

The third most populous city in North Carolina and the center of the Greensboro metropolitan area.

From Rocky Mount
128.1 mi
02h 30m
To Elizabeth City
128.3 mi
02h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph NW
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rocky Mount and Elizabeth City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount and Elizabeth City.

  1. 1

    Start on Cokey Road

    130 m · 19 sec · Cokey Road

  2. 2

    Turn sharp right onto Hill Street

    1351 ft · 43 sec · Hill Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Arlington Street

    53 m · 4 sec · Arlington Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Arlington Street

    82 m · 7 sec · Arlington Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Atlantic Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    945 ft · 23 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    39.9 mi · 43 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Rolesville Road

    1173 ft · 29 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Rolesville Road

    94 m · 8 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Rolesville Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Rolesville Road

  11. 11

    Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road

    2050 ft · 39 sec · Marks Creek Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Horton Road

    2310 ft · 44 sec · Horton Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Buffaloe Road

    3.8 mi · 7 min · Buffaloe Road

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right

    1943 ft · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway

    15.4 mi · 17 min · Northern Wake Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham

    2972 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on New Raleigh Highway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · New Raleigh Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on South Miami Boulevard

    9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    42.3 mi · 49 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    108 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby

    3242 ft · 50 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on East Dixon Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East Dixon Boulevard

  28. 28

    Turn right onto East Marion Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East Marion Street

  29. 29

    Continue on North Post Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Post Road

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Crystal Lane

    129 m · 19 sec · Crystal Lane

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Crystal Lane

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rocky Mount and Elizabeth 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
31 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 85 Business South
113 mi · 44%
South Miami Boulevard
59.3 mi · 23%
Atlantic Avenue
41.4 mi · 16%
Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi · 6%
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
7.61 mi · 3%
Buffaloe Road
4.2 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 85 Business South

Keep slight left

108 mi · 02h 02m

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
05h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.8 mi
212.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greensboro
02h 30m from Rocky Mount
Leave By
6:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Rocky Mount and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabeth City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rocky Mount to Elizabeth City?

The road trip is about 256.4 miles (412.6 km) and usually takes 05h 01m 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?

Greensboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.1 miles from Rocky Mount and 128.3 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 212.6 miles (342.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.8 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 6:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.85 one way or $71.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Rocky Mount and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabeth City.

Stop Ideas Near Greensboro

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

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

RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

4 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

High Point

23 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Burlington

32 mi away
101 North Main Street
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

39 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rocky Mount and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 212.58 mi (342.11 km).

Rocky Mount

#1 Rocky Mount

The most populous city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

Population53,689
Coordinates35.9382100, -77.7905300
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth City

#2 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,751
Coordinates35.2929100, -81.4912000
Altitude284
CountryUnited States
Start: Rocky Mount (-77.79053, 35.93821)
End: Elizabeth City (-81.4912, 35.29291)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 413 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.05 gal
34.25 L · about $35.85
Round trip
$71.69
18.1 gal · 68.5 L
Estimated CO2
80.4 kg one way
Round trip: 160.9 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.85 $71.69
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.08 $80.16
Premium $4.78 $43.24 $86.48
Diesel $5.62 $50.90 $101.79

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Rocky Mount and Elizabeth City. The current time is 01:59:51.

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.