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

The driving distance from Selma, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is about 313.3 miles (504.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 18m 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
313.26 mi
05h 09m
Flight
249.69 mi
401.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Selma.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
249.69 mi
Kilometers
401.83 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
313.26 mi
Kilometers
504.15 km
Drive Time
05h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Mon, Apr 20, 6:49 PM EDT
Return by in Selma
Mon, Apr 20, 11:58 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Selma
2026-04-20T13:40
Arrive Chapel Hill
Mon, Apr 20, 6:49 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:09 AM to 1:09 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
6:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Selma
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
Mocksville
NC

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

From Selma
157.5 mi
02h 34m
To Chapel Hill
155.8 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
38°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 mph SW
Destination
39°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Pollock Street

    931 ft · 29 sec · North Pollock Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Noble Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Noble Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Buffalo Road

    727 ft · 16 sec · Buffalo Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1075 ft · 26 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    6.6 mi · 8 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

    10 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    82.1 mi · 1 hr 35 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

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

    153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25

    787 ft · 23 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn straight

    77 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right

    1885 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

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

    21.3 mi · 33 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  23. 23

    Turn left

    8 m · 2 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
153 mi · 49%
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
112 mi · 36%
US 25 North
24.8 mi · 8%
Broadway Street
8.04 mi · 3%
Buffalo Road
6.99 mi · 2%
Billy Graham Freeway
4.56 mi · 1%
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
05h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.6 mi
249.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mocksville
02h 34m from Selma
Leave By
6:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Selma and Mostly Clear near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 313.3 miles (504.2 km) and usually takes 05h 09m 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?

Mocksville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 157.5 miles from Selma and 155.8 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.6 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 6:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.77 one way or $87.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Selma and Mostly Clear near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Mocksville

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

26 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

29 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

36 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Selma and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 249.69 mi (401.83 km).

Selma

#1 Selma

Town of the United States

Population7,323
Coordinates35.5365500, -78.2844400
Altitude53
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: North Pollock Street (-78.28432, 35.536486)
End: (-82.708707, 35.942917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 504 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.05 gal
41.84 L · about $43.77
Round trip
$87.54
22.1 gal · 83.68 L
Estimated CO2
98.2 kg one way
Round trip: 196.4 kg / 433 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $43.77 $87.54
Mid-grade $4.43 $48.94 $97.88
Premium $4.78 $52.80 $105.59
Diesel $5.62 $62.15 $124.29

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 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Selma and Chapel Hill. The current time is 13:40:14.

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.