Raleigh and Charlotte are roughly 130–170 miles apart depending on the route and mode of travel. Here are the typical distances you’ll see:
- Direct (air) distance: about 129–130 miles (208–209 kilometers) between Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Charlotte (CLT) airports.
- Driving distance: typically around 160–170 miles (approximately 260–275 kilometers), depending on the exact starting point in Raleigh and the chosen highway route.
- Common driving routes: the fastest major route is usually I-40 West to I-85 or I-440 around the metro area, then rejoining I-85 South to CLT, with typical drive times around 2.5–3.5 hours depending on traffic.
If you’d like, specify your exact starting point in Raleigh and ending point in Charlotte, plus preferred travel mode (car, bus, train, flight), and I can give a precise distance and estimated travel time.
