Origin
Bethlehem, NC
Late night in Bethlehem on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
73.7 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 73.7-mile drive from Bethlehem, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 33 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-40 and Salem Parkway, making it a highway-focused journey through the Southeast region of North Carolina. Given its short duration and efficient route, this drive is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll find this route to be practical and efficient, connecting two points within the same state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Bethlehem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 57 mi | 1h 4m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Section House Road Northeast | 3.3 mi | 8m |
| NC 127 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Kool Park Road Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| West 1st Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Cloninger Mill Road Northeast | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 57 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Telephone Exchange Road
123 ft
·
12 sec
·
Telephone Exchange Road
2
Turn left onto NC 127
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
NC 127
3
Turn left onto Cloninger Mill Road Northeast
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Cloninger Mill Road Northeast
4
Continue on Kool Park Road Northeast
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Kool Park Road Northeast
5
At end of road, turn right onto Springs Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Springs Road Northeast
6
Turn left onto Section House Road Northeast
3.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Section House Road Northeast
7
At end of road, turn left onto West 1st Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
57 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
11
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
14
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
15
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this short, 1 hour and 33-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic in the Bethlehem area. With a total distance of just 73.7 miles and no planned stops, you can easily make this a quick journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so ensure you have enough gas before you leave, especially since the longest stretch on I-40 is 57 miles. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-40 to Salem Parkway as you approach Winston-Salem, as this is where the road character shifts.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.8 miles from Bethlehem, NC, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethlehem, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethlehem, NC
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Bethlehem, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Bethlehem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 9.2 and 73.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
West 1st Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
7
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
73.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.53 one way
$23.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.60 | $25.20 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.64 | $27.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.27 | $32.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night in Winston-Salem on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for 87% of this 73.7-mile route, primarily on I-40 and Salem Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 57 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive is on major roadways, the final segments might involve local roads like Section House Road Northeast, introducing a slight change in pace. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, keeping you moving steadily towards your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salem Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in near West 1st Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →Founded 1766
Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
Top landmarks
- • Old Salem — historic district and open-air museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
- • Reynolds Building — historic skyscraper in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
- • Home Moravian Church — church building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winston-Salem, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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