How far is Rocky Mount, NC from Tarboro, NC?

The driving distance from Rocky Mount, NC to Tarboro, NC is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 14.5 miles (23.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
16.62 mi
00h 22m
Flight
14.54 mi
23.4 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rocky Mount.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
14.54 mi
Kilometers
23.4 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
16.62 mi
Kilometers
26.75 km
Drive Time
00h 22m

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 00h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tarboro
Thu, Apr 16, 7:50 PM EDT
Return by in Rocky Mount
Thu, Apr 16, 8:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rocky Mount
2026-04-16T19:28
Arrive Tarboro
Thu, Apr 16, 7:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:23 AM to 7:23 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Rocky Mount
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Leggett
NC

Town in Edgecombe County, North Carolina

From Rocky Mount
8.3 mi
00h 11m
To Tarboro
8.3 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW
Destination
90°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Mount and Tarboro.

  1. 1

    Start on Cokey Road

    130 m · 19 sec · Cokey Road

  2. 2

    Turn sharp right onto Hill Street

    555 ft · 20 sec · Hill Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Raleigh Boulevard

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East Raleigh Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    13 mi · 14 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    1464 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    37 m · 9 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2257 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Saint James Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Saint James Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Trade Street

    7 m · 1 sec · Trade Street

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Trade Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rocky Mount and Tarboro.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
10 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Raleigh Boulevard
15.2 mi · 91%
West Saint James Street
0.84 mi · 5%
Hill Street
0.11 mi · 1%
Cokey Road
0.08 mi
Trade Street
0 mi
Longest Stretch

East Raleigh Boulevard

Take the ramp right

13 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 22m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
14.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leggett
00h 11m from Rocky Mount
Leave By
7:44 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Rocky Mount and Mostly Sunny near Tarboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rocky Mount to Tarboro?

The road trip is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km) and usually takes 00h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Leggett is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.3 miles from Rocky Mount and 8.3 miles from Tarboro.

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

The direct path is about 14.5 miles (23.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.34 one way or $4.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Rocky Mount and Mostly Sunny near Tarboro.

Stop Ideas Near Leggett

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

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

RAIL

Rocky Mount

20 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Wilson

42 mi away
401 East Nash Street
BUS

Greenville, NC

46 mi away
Second and Reade Streets
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

76 mi away
1615 East Beech Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rocky Mount and Tarboro. Straight-line distance: 14.54 mi (23.4 km).

Rocky Mount

#1 Rocky Mount

The most populous city in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

Population53,689
Coordinates35.9382100, -77.7905300
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Tarboro

#2 Tarboro

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population10,575
Coordinates35.8968200, -77.5358000
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: Rocky Mount (-77.79053, 35.93821)
End: Tarboro (-77.5358, 35.89682)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 27 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.59 gal
2.22 L · about $2.34
Round trip
$4.67
1.18 gal · 4.44 L
Estimated CO2
5.2 kg one way
Round trip: 10.5 kg / 23 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $2.34 $4.67
Mid-grade $4.43 $2.61 $5.23
Premium $4.78 $2.82 $5.64
Diesel $5.62 $3.32 $6.64

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Rocky Mount and Tarboro. The current time is 19:28:10.

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.