How far is Washington, NC from Charlotte, NC?
The driving distance from Washington, NC to Charlotte, NC is about 273.5 miles (440.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 214.7 miles (345.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 03m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in and county seat of Orange County, North Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Washington and Charlotte.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington and Charlotte.
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1
Start on West 5th Street
3.6 mi · 6 min · West 5th Street
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2
Continue on Pactolus Highway
14.2 mi · 18 min · Pactolus Highway
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3
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Highway
9.8 mi · 12 min · Martin Luther King Junior Highway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward I 587 West: Wilson
2280 ft · 56 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto John P East Memorial Highway
32.5 mi · 35 min · John P East Memorial Highway
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6
Merge slight right
29.8 mi · 32 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Rolesville Road
1173 ft · 29 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Rolesville Road
94 m · 8 sec
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9
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi · 4 min · Rolesville Road
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10
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
2050 ft · 39 sec · Marks Creek Road
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11
Turn right onto Horton Road
2310 ft · 44 sec · Horton Road
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12
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi · 7 min · Buffaloe Road
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13
Take the ramp right
1943 ft · 24 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi · 17 min · Northern Wake Expressway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 70 West: Durham
2972 ft · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Glenwood Avenue
1.9 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Avenue
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17
Continue on New Raleigh Highway
2.5 mi · 4 min · New Raleigh Highway
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18
Continue on South Miami Boulevard
9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard
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19
Keep slight left
42.3 mi · 49 min
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20
Keep slight right
7.7 mi · 9 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
5.4 mi · 6 min
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22
Keep slight left
77 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Sugar Creek Road
750 ft · 26 sec
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24
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · West Sugar Creek Road
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25
Turn right onto North Tryon Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · North Tryon Street
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26
Continue on North Church Street
1.1 km · 1 min · North Church Street
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27
Continue on North Tryon Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Tryon Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Tryon Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Washington and Charlotte.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 85 Business South
Keep slight left
77 mi · 01h 24m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Washington and Mostly Sunny near Charlotte.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Washington to Charlotte?
The road trip is about 273.5 miles (440.2 km) and usually takes 04h 03m 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?
Hillsborough is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132.5 miles from Washington and 141.1 miles from Charlotte.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 214.7 miles (345.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.8 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 8:54 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.22 one way or $76.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Washington and Mostly Sunny near Charlotte.
Stop Ideas Near Hillsborough
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town Hall Burger & Beer Durham
Durham County Inspections Department
The Town Hall Grill
Pompieri Pizza
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hillsborough.
Durham
Burlington
Cary
North Carolina State Fair station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Washington and Charlotte. Straight-line distance: 214.67 mi (345.47 km).
#1 Washington
City in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States of America
| Population | 9,487 |
| Coordinates | 35.5465500, -77.0521700 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Charlotte
The fourteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Charlotte metropolitan area.
| Population | 900,350 |
| Coordinates | 35.2270900, -80.8431300 |
| Altitude | 229 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Tryon Street (-80.843177, 35.227134)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 440 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 06m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $38.22 | $76.45 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $42.74 | $85.48 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $46.11 | $92.22 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $54.27 | $108.54 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.