How far is Southern Pines, NC from Chapel Hill, NC?

The driving distance from Southern Pines, NC to Chapel Hill, NC is about 254.1 miles (408.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 193.8 miles (311.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 57m 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
254.07 mi
04h 28m
Flight
193.82 mi
311.93 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Southern Pines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
193.82 mi
Kilometers
311.93 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
254.07 mi
Kilometers
408.89 km
Drive Time
04h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 16, 6:58 PM EDT
Return by in Southern Pines
Thu, Apr 16, 11:27 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Southern Pines
2026-04-16T14:30
Arrive Chapel Hill
Thu, Apr 16, 6:58 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:29 AM to 12:29 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
8:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Southern Pines
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
Catawba
NC

Human settlement in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Southern Pines
127.9 mi
02h 14m
To Chapel Hill
126.2 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Southern Pines and Chapel Hill.

  1. 1

    Start on West Pennsylvania Avenue

    12 m · 4 sec · West Pennsylvania Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Southwest Broad Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Southwest Broad Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Morganton Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West Morganton Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Morganton Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Morganton Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Beulah Hill Road South

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Beulah Hill Road South

  6. 6

    Turn left onto NC 211 Highway

    16.9 mi · 25 min · NC 211 Highway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro

    1702 ft · 42 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    25 mi · 28 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Lexington

    1043 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1687 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Lexington

    1265 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Asheboro Bypass

    29.3 mi · 40 min · Asheboro Bypass

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 West: Mocksville

    1425 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Mocksville Road

    17.7 mi · 25 min · Mocksville Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Sanford Avenue

    1286 ft · 31 sec · Sanford Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Valley Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Valley Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Wilkesboro Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Wilkesboro Street

  18. 18

    Take the exit left

    1312 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    114.3 mi · 2 hr 10 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25

    787 ft · 23 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Merrimon Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · Merrimon Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn straight

    77 m · 10 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

  25. 25

    Take the ramp right

    1885 ft · 46 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  28. 28

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

    21.3 mi · 33 min

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  31. 31

    Continue on Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  32. 32

    Turn left

    8 m · 2 sec

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
33 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Wilkesboro Street
117 mi · 46%
Asheboro Bypass
29.3 mi · 12%
I 73 North
25.3 mi · 10%
US 25 North
24.8 mi · 10%
Mocksville Road
17.7 mi · 7%
NC 211 Highway
16.9 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Wilkesboro Street

Merge slight left

114 mi · 02h 10m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.3 mi
193.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Catawba
02h 14m from Southern Pines
Leave By
8:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Southern Pines and Mostly Sunny near Chapel Hill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Southern Pines to Chapel Hill?

The road trip is about 254.1 miles (408.9 km) and usually takes 04h 28m 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?

Catawba is a useful midpoint, sitting about 127.9 miles from Southern Pines and 126.2 miles from Chapel Hill.

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

The direct path is about 193.8 miles (311.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.3 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 8:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.53 one way or $71.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Southern Pines and Mostly Sunny near Chapel Hill.

Stop Ideas Near Catawba

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

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

RAIL

Kannapolis

47 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Gastonia

49 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Salisbury

56 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Charlotte

57 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Southern Pines and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 193.82 mi (311.93 km).

Southern Pines

#1 Southern Pines

Town in North Carolina, USA

Population15,070
Coordinates35.1740500, -79.3922500
Altitude152
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: West Pennsylvania Avenue (-79.392198, 35.174083)
End: (-82.708707, 35.942917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 409 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.97 gal
33.94 L · about $35.53
Round trip
$71.06
17.94 gal · 67.88 L
Estimated CO2
79.7 kg one way
Round trip: 159.4 kg / 351 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.53 $71.06
Mid-grade $4.43 $39.73 $79.46
Premium $4.78 $42.86 $85.72
Diesel $5.62 $50.45 $100.89

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 Southern Pines and Chapel Hill. The current time is 14:30:15.

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.