Location and Transportation


Citizens and visitors find Clayton easily accessible. Located on the western edge of Johnston County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, the town is only about a 20-minute drive to the state capital in Raleigh and about a 30- or 35-minute drive to the Research Triangle Park and Durham, respectively. Clayton is near Interstates 40 and 95 and U.S. 70, and is a 30-minute drive from Raleigh/Durham International Airport. The airport services eight major airlines and 18 regional airlines with an average of 372 daily arrivals and departures.

A four-lane, divided highway was constructed to relieve congestion on existing U.S. 70 and provide motorists traveling to Raleigh or the coast with an alternate route. Motorists traveling to I-40 through Clayton now have a faster, less-congested route.

  • It is a new four-lane, divided highway.
  • There are access points at interchanges including I-40, N.C. 42, Ranch Road and the U.S. 70/U.S. 70 Business Split.
  • The new road includes 22 new bridges.
  • Existing U.S. 70 has become U.S. 70 Business.
  • The 10.7-mile highway stretches from I-40 at mile marker 310 in Wake County to the U.S. 70/U.S. 70 Business Split in Johnston County.

The Johnston County Airport is located approximately five minutes east of Clayton. Its 5,500-foot runway and taxiways are paved and lighted, and charter service is available. Amtrak can be boarded in Selma or in Raleigh. Bus service is available from Smithfield and from Raleigh.

The scenic North Carolina Mountains are just three and a half hours to the west, and the beautiful North Carolina coast is just two hours to the east.