How far is Smithfield, NC from West Raleigh, NC?

The driving distance from Smithfield, NC to West Raleigh, NC is about 31.7 miles (51 km), with a travel time of about 00h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26.5 miles (42.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.
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
31.69 mi
00h 38m
Flight
26.49 mi
42.63 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Smithfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.49 mi
Kilometers
42.63 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.69 mi
Kilometers
51 km
Drive Time
00h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Raleigh
Sun, Nov 1, 9:03 PM EST
Return by in Smithfield
Sun, Nov 1, 9:42 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Smithfield
2026-11-01T20:24
Arrive West Raleigh
Sun, Nov 1, 9:03 PM EST
Route Timing
00h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:39 AM to 7:39 PM EST

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

Leave by
7:12 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Smithfield
10:00 PM EST
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
Clayton
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Smithfield
16 mi
00h 19m
To West Raleigh
15.7 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 6:00 AM EST
Wind
3 to 8 mph NE
Destination
67°F
Today

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 1 11:00 AM EST
Wind
8 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Smithfield and West Raleigh.

  1. 1

    Start on East Market Street

    5.6 mi · 10 min · East Market Street

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1.5 km · 2 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 50 North, US 401 North, US 70 West: Raleigh Downtown

    1349 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto South Saunders Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Saunders Street

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Western Boulevard

    1458 ft · 44 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

    1268 ft · 26 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on Western Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Western Boulevard

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto Pullen Road

    131 m · 11 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Pullen Road

    1917 ft · 1 min · Pullen Road

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pullen Road

    19 m · 2 sec · Pullen Road

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto Pullen Road

    717 ft · 26 sec · Pullen Road

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hillsborough Street

    62 m · 7 sec · Hillsborough Street

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    153 m · 15 sec · Hillsborough Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Enterprise Street

    13 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
19.7 mi · 62%
East Market Street
8.69 mi · 27%
Western Boulevard
1.25 mi · 4%
South Saunders Street
0.92 mi · 3%
Pullen Road
0.59 mi · 2%
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.28 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

Merge slight left

10.8 mi · 00h 12m

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 38m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.2 mi
26.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clayton
00h 19m from Smithfield
Leave By
7:12 PM EST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Smithfield and Partly Sunny near West Raleigh.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Smithfield to West Raleigh?

The road trip is about 31.7 miles (51 km) and usually takes 00h 38m 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?

Clayton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16 miles from Smithfield and 15.7 miles from West Raleigh.

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

The direct path is about 26.5 miles (42.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:12 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.80 one way or $7.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Smithfield and Partly Sunny near West Raleigh.

Stop Ideas Near Clayton

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Clayton and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall Burger and Beer
Food stop 14 mi away

Town Hall Burger and Beer

Holly Springs , NC
301 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540
Rating 4.3/5 262 reviews Restaurant,Family restaurant,Hamburger restaurant
Garner Town Hall
Scenic stop 6.5 mi away

Garner Town Hall

Garner , NC
900 7th Ave, Garner, NC 27529
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall,Park
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 5.2 mi away

Clayton Utilities

Clayton , NC
111 E 2nd St, Clayton, NC 27520
Rating 2.0/5 20 reviews City government office,Water utility company
Angier Police Department And Town Hall
Nearby stop 13.7 mi away

Angier Police Department And Town Hall

Angier , NC
55 N Broad St W, Angier, NC 27501
Rating 4.3/5 6 reviews Police department

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clayton.

RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

21 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

22 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

28 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
RAIL

Cary

33 mi away
211 North Academy Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Smithfield and West Raleigh. Straight-line distance: 26.49 mi (42.63 km).

Smithfield

#1 Smithfield

County seat of Johnston County, North Carolina

Population13,333
Coordinates35.5084900, -78.3394500
Altitude45
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 West Raleigh

A census-designated place located in Wake County, North Carolina.

Population338,759
Coordinates35.7868200, -78.6638900
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Start: East Market Street (-78.33946, 35.508474)
End: Enterprise Street (-78.664028, 35.786823)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 51 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.12 gal
4.23 L · about $3.80
Round trip
$7.61
2.24 gal · 8.46 L
Estimated CO2
10 kg one way
Round trip: 19.9 kg / 44 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.40 $3.80 $7.61
Mid-grade $3.86 $4.32 $8.64
Premium $4.29 $4.80 $9.60
Diesel $5.52 $6.18 $12.36

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 · Nov 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Smithfield and West Raleigh. The current time is 20:24:18.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.