Origin
Burlington, NC
Morning in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
10:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, NC to Kernersville, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Kernersville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 39-mile drive from Burlington to Kernersville, North Carolina, can easily be completed in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway, with a short section on Salem Parkway, offering a straightforward journey through the Southeast region. With a modest estimated fuel cost of just $6, this is an economical option for a short excursion. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, as the entire trip is comfortably manageable within a single day. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on higher-speed roads.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 20.3 mi | 24m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| Salem Parkway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Church Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Alamance Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Mountain Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Fisher Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| NC 66 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 20.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NC and Kernersville, NC.
1
Start on US 70; NC 62
192 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Church Street
2
Turn left onto NC 87; NC 100
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Webb Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 70; NC 62
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Fisher Street
4
Turn straight onto US 70; NC 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto NC 62
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Alamance Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
7
Merge onto I 40; I 85
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Parkway
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
441 ft
·
15 sec
Exit 222
Toward NC 66: Kernersville, Walkertown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto NC 66
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
NC 66
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn slight left onto East Mountain Street
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Mountain Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Mountain Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Burlington, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 38.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West, I 85 South: Greensboro
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 40; US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
35 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
US 421 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
8
38.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward NC 66: Kernersville, Walkertown
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 222
Toward NC 66: Kernersville, Walkertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.10 one way
$12.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.67 | $13.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.61 | $17.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Kernersville, NC
Morning in Kernersville on Sunday
Local time
10:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
49m 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 drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 90% of the 39 miles spent on major roadways like I-40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.3 miles on I-40, allowing for consistent speed. While the majority of the journey is on these main arteries, there's a brief transition onto Salem Parkway as you approach your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic exploration, keeping you moving steadily towards Kernersville.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sam Hunt Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 39 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 39 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kernersville, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kernersville, 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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