We are an hour east of Raleigh on US-70, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Here is the honest case for making the drive, and when you shouldn't bother.
Why Raleigh Drivers Choose Sport Durst Mazda of Goldsboro
There are Mazda dealers closer to you than we are. These are the reasons Triangle buyers make the drive anyway.
The Configuration You Actually Wanted
Most trips out here start with a specific car. A CX-90 with the second-row bench rather than captain's chairs, a particular trim, a colour that keeps not being in stock nearer home. Allocation does not spread evenly across a metro, and an hour is a short drive to stop compromising.
A Store That Is Not Slammed
A Saturday at a Triangle store means waiting. Out here you are usually the only person looking at that car, which is why buyers who already know what they want tend to get the whole thing done in one visit rather than three.
The Drive Is Easier Than the Mileage Suggests
US-70 East is a straight shot from I-40 or the I-440 Beltline. Two long stretches, the Clayton Bypass and the Goldsboro Bypass, are now signed as I-42 and built to interstate standard. It is 52 miles of mostly limited-access road, not 52 miles of stoplights.
Part of a Group, Not an Island
Sport Durst runs stores across North Carolina, so the reach behind this rooftop is bigger than the building. If the exact vehicle is not standing here, there is a real chance we can find it inside the group.
Do the Paperwork From Raleigh First
Credit application and trade valuation both happen online before you leave. For an hour-long drive that is the difference between one trip and two, and it is the single most useful thing a Triangle buyer can do in advance.
We Will Tell You Not to Come
If the car you want is a common trim that three stores near you will have on the lot, we will say so on the phone rather than let you spend two hours in the car finding out. That is not modesty, it is how we would like to be treated.
The Honest Math on a 52-Mile Drive
Every location page in the world tells you the drive is nothing. Here are the actual numbers so you can decide for yourself.
Measured city centre to 3405 McLain Street. From Garner or the southeast side, noticeably less.
Non-stop, outside peak. Wilsons Mills is roughly the halfway mark if you want a coffee stop.
The 10-mile Clayton Bypass and the 22-mile Goldsboro Bypass, both built to interstate standard.
Credit application and trade valuation done online first means the drive happens once, not twice.
New and Pre-Owned Inventory, an Hour From Raleigh
Check what is on the ground before you set off. Inventory moves, so a phone call beats an assumption.
New Mazda Inventory
The full current range, from the CX-30 up to the three-row CX-90, plus the MX-5 Miata for the people who came here for that and nothing else.
Shop New InventoryUsed and Certified Pre-Owned
Certified Pre-Owned Mazdas carry a factory-backed warranty and a full inspection. The wider used lot runs across makes, not just Mazda.
Shop Certified Pre-OwnedShop Mazda Models Near Raleigh
Ordered by what Triangle buyers actually drive out here for.
Driving to Goldsboro From Raleigh
Getting Here
US-70 East the whole way, picked up from I-40 or the I-440 Beltline. Through Garner, Clayton and Smithfield, then onto the Goldsboro Bypass. We are at 3405 McLain Street, a few minutes off it. Set navigation to McLain Street, not the old Sunburst Drive address some listings still carry.
In the Showroom
If you told us on the phone which car you were coming for, it will be out front and unlocked when you arrive. Nobody is going to make you sit through a walkaround of three other models first. You drove an hour; we assume you have done your reading.
Service and Parts
Factory-trained Mazda technicians and genuine Mazda parts on site, with scheduling online. Realistically most Raleigh owners will service closer to home, and that is fine. Service is (919) 249-7654 and parts is (919) 249-7131.
Hours and Contact
Sales is open 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday, closed Sunday. Service runs 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday. Sales is (919) 823-7198.
Sport Durst Mazda of Goldsboro
3405 McLain Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534
Sales:
(919) 823-7198About 52 miles and roughly an hour from Raleigh on US-70 East.
Sort the Financing Before You Leave Raleigh
An hour each way is a long trip to make twice. The online credit application takes a few minutes, and a trade valuation on your current vehicle takes about the same. Do both and the visit is a test drive and a signature.
What Drivers From Across Eastern NC Say
Including the ones who drove out from the Triangle.
Questions From Raleigh Buyers
How far is Sport Durst Mazda of Goldsboro from Raleigh?
About 52 miles and roughly an hour, straight out US-70 East. We are not going to call that close. Wilsons Mills is about the halfway point, and the last stretch runs onto the Goldsboro Bypass, which is signed as I-42 and built to interstate standard. From the southeast side of Raleigh or from Garner, take a few minutes off that.
What is the best route from Raleigh to Goldsboro?
US-70 East is the whole trip. Pick it up from I-40 or from the I-440 Beltline on the southeast side of Raleigh and stay on it through Garner, Clayton and Smithfield. Two long stretches are now signed as I-42: the 10-mile Clayton Bypass and the 22-mile Goldsboro Bypass. Both are interstate-standard, which is why the drive feels shorter than the mileage suggests.
Why would a Raleigh buyer drive past closer Mazda dealers?
Usually for one of three reasons, and we would rather be straight about them. A specific configuration is here and not there. You want a store where nobody is queued behind you on a Saturday. Or you already know what you want and would rather do the whole thing in one visit than three. If none of those apply to you, a closer store is the sensible answer and we will say so on the phone.
Can I do the credit application before I make the drive from Raleigh?
Yes, and for an hour-long drive it is the single most useful thing you can do first. The online credit application takes a few minutes and means the financing conversation is largely settled before you leave Raleigh. Pair it with an online trade valuation and most of what usually eats a Saturday afternoon is already handled.
Which Mazda models do Triangle buyers usually come out for?
The three-row CX-90 and the CX-50 come up most, because those are the ones where a specific configuration matters and where buyers are willing to travel to get the one they actually want rather than the one that happens to be nearby. The CX-5 is the volume car everywhere. Call before you drive out and we will confirm what is on the ground.
Can I get my Mazda serviced in Goldsboro if I live in Raleigh?
You can, and for a routine oil change you probably should not. An hour each way for scheduled maintenance is a poor trade, and any Mazda dealer honors the factory warranty. Where it does make sense is if you work out this way, if you are already heading east on US-70, or for something specific you would rather have done by the store that sold you the car. Service is (919) 249-7654.
Do you take trade-ins from outside Wayne County?
Yes. Where you live has no bearing on what your vehicle is worth to us. Start with the online trade valuation so you have a working figure before you drive out, and bring the title and registration with you so the trade can be completed in the same visit rather than a second one.
What are your hours if I am driving out after work?
Sales is open until 8:00 PM Monday through Friday and until 6:00 PM on Saturday, and we are closed Sunday. Leaving Raleigh at 5:30 on a weekday still gives you a comfortable window. The service department keeps different hours, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday.
Is the drive worth it if I am only looking at a CX-30?
Honestly, often not. The CX-30 is a high-volume car and most Triangle stores will have several. The drive earns its keep when the vehicle you want is specific enough that availability is the constraint. Call us, tell us the exact trim and colour you are after, and we will tell you straight whether it is worth your hour.
Where exactly are you in Goldsboro?
3405 McLain Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534, a few minutes off the US-70 bypass on the north side of town. Some older third-party listings still show an address on Sunburst Drive. That one is out of date, so set your navigation to McLain Street.
Call Before You Drive Out
Tell us the exact car you are after and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth your hour.
Sport Durst Mazda of Goldsboro · 3405 McLain Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534 · About 52 miles from Raleigh on US-70 East
