Best stops on I-540 in North Carolina

All 19 exits ranked by what a road-tripper actually needs: real food choice, easy gas, 24-hour service, and the stops worth a detour. Winners below.

1. Exit 16 — Capital Boulevard;Raleigh;Wake Forest

Milepost 16 · 29 places to eat · 13 gas stations · 11 hotels · ♥ Carousel

2. Exit 7 — Leesville Road

Milepost 7 · 27 places to eat · 6 gas stations · ♥ North Carolina Museum of Art, East Building

3. Exit 24 — Knightdale;Raleigh

Milepost 24 · 15 places to eat · 3 gas stations · 5 hotels · ♥ Marbles Kids Museum, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

4. Exit 3 — Lumley Road

Milepost 3 · 29 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 10 hotels · ♥ William B. Umstead State Park

5. Exit 17 — Triangle Town Boulevard

Milepost 17 · 22 places to eat · 12 gas stations · 8 hotels

6. Exit 18 — Louisburg

Milepost 18 · 21 places to eat · 9 gas stations · 6 hotels

7. Exit 4A — Raleigh

Milepost 4 · 29 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 11 hotels

8. Exit 14

Milepost 14 · 29 places to eat · 9 gas stations

9. Exit 1B — Durham

Milepost 1 · 29 places to eat · 6 gas stations · 22 hotels

10. Exit 4B — Durham

Milepost 4 · 16 places to eat · 8 gas stations · 10 hotels

← Every I-540 exit in North Carolina