Charlotte to Raleigh distance
Charlotte and Raleigh are 130 miles (209 km) apart in a straight line and 165 miles (265 km) apart by road: about 3 hr 15 min of driving without stops, mostly on I-85 and I-40. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.
By the All Map Tools Team
- By road
- 165 mi (265 km)
- Driving time
- 3 hr 15 min
- Straight line
- 130 mi (209 km)
- Driving route
- Straight line
- Straight-line midpoint
- Halfway by road
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on November 1, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 130 mi (209 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 165 mi (265 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 3 hr 15 min no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +27% 1.27 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 50 mph (81 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 73° (east) leaving Charlotte toward Raleigh |
| Midpoint | 35.5046° N, 79.7446° W near Seagrove (North Carolina) |
| Halfway by road | Near Sedalia (North Carolina) 82.3 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Elevation | Charlotte: 763 ft (233 m) · Raleigh: 315 ft (96 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | Charlotte: 964,784 · Raleigh: 506,306 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
Charlotte to Raleigh by road
The fastest driving route is 165 miles (265 km) long and takes about 3 hr 15 min without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on I-85 (78.2 mi) and I-40 (67.1 mi).
The whole route stays in North Carolina. That’s an average of 50 mph (81 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 1 stop of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 3 hr 35 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.
Straight-line distance and bearing
In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, Charlotte and Raleigh are 130 miles (209 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 27% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 127. That’s a normal detour between two cities. Of the 110 US driving pairs in this series, it ranks 10th for detour (the average is 16%).
From Charlotte, Raleigh lies to the east (bearing 73°), and from Raleigh, Charlotte lies to the west.
Halfway between Charlotte and Raleigh
Halfway along the straight line, 64.9 miles (104 km) from each city, is the point 35.5046° N, 79.7446° W. It falls near Seagrove (North Carolina, pop. 248), 3.2 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 82.3 miles (132 km) from each city, near Sedalia (North Carolina, pop. 691), 15.7 mi away. The two midpoints are 34.2 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
Charlotte and Raleigh share the same time all year: both are on Eastern Time.
No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.
The two cities
Charlotte sits at 763 ft (233 m) and Raleigh at 315 ft (96 m), 448 ft (137 m) lower.
Charlotte has 964,784 people and Raleigh 506,306 people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from Charlotte to Raleigh?
130 miles (209 km) in a straight line and 165 miles (265 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on I-85 and I-40).
How long is the drive from Charlotte to Raleigh?
About 3 hr 15 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 1 stop of 20 minutes, about 3 hr 35 min.
Where is the halfway point between Charlotte and Raleigh?
In a straight line, near Seagrove (North Carolina). By road, 82.3 mi from each city, near Sedalia (North Carolina).
Are Charlotte and Raleigh in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Eastern Time all year.
Which city is higher, Charlotte or Raleigh?
Charlotte, at 763 ft (233 m); Raleigh sits at 315 ft (96 m).
Measure it yourself on the map
The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.
- Distance between two points Measure the distance between any two places or points on the map, in miles or kilometers.
- Straight line vs driving distance Compare the as-the-crow-flies distance with the real driving distance and see how much the road adds.
- Halfway point Find the exact halfway point between two places and see it on the map, ready to share.
More distances from Charlotte
All distancesSources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on November 1, 2026) · FOSSGIS e.V.
- Roads, streets and places · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Straight line, bearings and midpoint (geodesics on the WGS84 ellipsoid) · GeographicLib (C. F. F. Karney)
- US city centers (GNIS) and their elevation (3DEP) · USGS (public domain)
- Population estimates, Vintage 2025 · US Census Bureau (public domain)
- Places near the midpoints: All Map Tools gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · All Map Tools
- Time zones (timezone-boundary-builder outlines and the IANA database) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Map: provinces (IGN), states (US Census Bureau) and countries (Natural Earth) · IGN, Census and Natural Earth
- Methodology