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

The driving distance from West Raleigh, NC to Murphy, NC is about 353.7 miles (569.3 km), with a travel time of about 07h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 306.1 miles (492.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
353.76 mi
07h 05m
Flight
306.14 mi
492.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Raleigh.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
306.14 mi
Kilometers
492.68 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
353.76 mi
Kilometers
569.32 km
Drive Time
07h 05m

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 07h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Murphy
Sat, Apr 18, 1:12 PM EDT
Return by in West Raleigh
Sat, Apr 18, 8:18 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Raleigh
2026-04-18T06:07
Arrive Murphy
Sat, Apr 18, 1:12 PM EDT
Route Timing
07h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:06 PM to 2:36 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Raleigh
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Icard
NC

Township in Burke County, North Carolina

From West Raleigh
176.7 mi
03h 32m
To Murphy
177.1 mi
03h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
93°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph S
Destination
87°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Enterprise Street

    13 m · 7 sec · Enterprise Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Hillsborough Street

    2767 ft · 1 min · Hillsborough Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    33 m · 2 sec · Hillsborough Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    789 ft · 20 sec · Hillsborough Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    27 m · 2 sec · Hillsborough Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    926 ft · 23 sec · Hillsborough Street

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Hillsborough Street

    30 m · 3 sec · Hillsborough Street

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Hillsborough Street

    1893 ft · 49 sec · Hillsborough Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Faircloth Street

    2814 ft · 1 min · Faircloth Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Wade Avenue

    2281 ft · 51 sec · Wade Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Wade Avenue

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Dan K. Moore Frwy.

    61.5 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Dan K. Moore Frwy.

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  15. 15

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

    153.1 mi · 2 hr 54 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    25.5 mi · 32 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 West: Clyde, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Murphy, Atlanta

    22 mi · 29 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

    21.9 mi · 26 min · Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue on Appalachian Highway

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Appalachian Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on West Highway 19

    4 mi · 5 min · West Highway 19

  21. 21

    Turn right

    34 mi · 46 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Peachtree Street

    2943 ft · 2 min · Peachtree Street

  23. 23

    Turn right

    19 m · 6 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left

    18 m · 7 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left

    18 m · 3 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Hiwassee Street

    36 m · 5 sec · Hiwassee Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hiwassee Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
179 mi · 50%
Dan K. Moore Frwy.
81.8 mi · 23%
US 74 West
22 mi · 6%
Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
21.9 mi · 6%
Appalachian Highway
5.33 mi · 2%
West Highway 19
4.02 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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 05m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.6 mi
306.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Icard
03h 32m from West Raleigh
Leave By
9:48 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving West Raleigh and Mostly Sunny near Murphy.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 353.7 miles (569.3 km) and usually takes 07h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Icard is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176.7 miles from West Raleigh and 177.1 miles from Murphy.

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

The direct path is about 306.1 miles (492.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.6 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $49.43 one way or $98.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around West Raleigh and Mostly Sunny near Murphy.

Stop Ideas Near Icard

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

58 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Charlotte

80 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

81 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

92 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Raleigh and Murphy. Straight-line distance: 306.14 mi (492.68 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 West Raleigh

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

Population338,759
Coordinates35.7868200, -78.6638900
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Murphy

#2 Murphy

Town in Cherokee County, North Carolina

Population1,666
Coordinates35.0875800, -84.0346300
Altitude486
CountryUnited States
Start: West Raleigh (-78.66389, 35.78682)
End: Murphy (-84.03463, 35.08758)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 569 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.48 gal
47.25 L · about $49.43
Round trip
$98.87
24.96 gal · 94.5 L
Estimated CO2
110.9 kg one way
Round trip: 221.8 kg / 489 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $49.43 $98.87
Mid-grade $4.43 $55.27 $110.55
Premium $4.78 $59.63 $119.26
Diesel $5.62 $70.19 $140.38

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

There is no time difference between West Raleigh and Murphy. The current time is 06:07:16.

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.