How far is Rolesville, NC from Chapel Hill, NC?

The driving distance from Rolesville, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is about 292.6 miles (470.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 237.8 miles (382.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 37m 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
292.62 mi
04h 48m
Flight
237.82 mi
382.74 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rolesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
237.82 mi
Kilometers
382.74 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
292.62 mi
Kilometers
470.93 km
Drive Time
04h 48m

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 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 19, 6:01 AM EDT
Return by in Rolesville
Sun, Apr 19, 10:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rolesville
2026-04-19T01:12
Arrive Chapel Hill
Sun, Apr 19, 6:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 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
7:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rolesville
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
Harmony
NC

Town in north Carolina

From Rolesville
145.6 mi
02h 24m
To Chapel Hill
147 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rolesville and Chapel Hill.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rolesville and Chapel Hill.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    2.2 mi · 5 min · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward South Main Street

    95 m · 6 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Louisburg Road

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Louisburg Road

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right

    1811 ft · 44 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway

    13.4 mi · 14 min · Northern Wake Expressway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham

    2972 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on New Raleigh Highway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · New Raleigh Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on South Miami Boulevard

    9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    42.3 mi · 49 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

    153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25

    787 ft · 23 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn straight

    77 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

  19. 19

    Take the ramp right

    1885 ft · 46 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25 North, US 70 West: Marshall

    21.3 mi · 33 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  26. 26

    Turn left

    8 m · 2 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rolesville and Chapel Hill.

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
27 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
153 mi · 52%
South Miami Boulevard
71.8 mi · 25%
US 25 North
24.8 mi · 8%
Northern Wake Expressway
13.4 mi · 5%
Broadway Street
8.04 mi · 3%
Louisburg Road
4.82 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.8 mi
237.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harmony
02h 24m from Rolesville
Leave By
7:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rolesville and Rain Showers Likely near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rolesville to Chapel Hill?

The road trip is about 292.6 miles (470.9 km) and usually takes 04h 48m 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?

Harmony is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.6 miles from Rolesville and 147 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 237.8 miles (382.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.8 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 7:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.92 one way or $81.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Rolesville and Rain Showers Likely near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Harmony

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

42 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

49 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

50 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rolesville and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 237.82 mi (382.74 km).

Rolesville

#1 Rolesville

City in Wake County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population8,882
Coordinates35.9232100, -78.4575000
Altitude135
CountryUnited States
Chapel Hill

#2 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Start: South Main Street (-78.457505, 35.923228)
End: (-82.708707, 35.942917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 471 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.33 gal
39.09 L · about $40.92
Round trip
$81.83
20.66 gal · 78.18 L
Estimated CO2
91.8 kg one way
Round trip: 183.6 kg / 405 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $40.92 $81.83
Mid-grade $4.43 $45.75 $91.50
Premium $4.78 $49.36 $98.71
Diesel $5.62 $58.10 $116.19

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 Rolesville and Chapel Hill. The current time is 01:12:44.

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.