Traveling between Charlotte and Winston-Salem is a straightforward 79.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly option for regional travel. Both cities are located within the Southeast, so you will remain in a familiar geographic environment throughout the entire drive. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this route offers a direct connection between these two North Carolina hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Charlotte, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Chambers Highway
45.4 mi
51m
I 285
25.6 mi
29m
South Tryon Street
3.5 mi
7m
West Sugar Creek Road
1.4 mi
2m
Salem Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
North Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Julius Chambers Highway
— 45.4 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlotte, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on South Tryon Street
3.5 mi·7 min·South Tryon Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
1.4 mi·2 min·West Sugar Creek Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 85 North: Concord
4
Merge onto I 85
45 mi·51 min·Julius Chambers Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.1 mi·4 min·I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52
22 mi·24 min·I 285; US 52
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 109BToward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem ParkwayUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.4 mi·34 sec·Salem Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour and 16-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip is short and requires no planned stops, you can easily tailor your schedule to avoid peak traffic hours in either Charlotte or Winston-Salem. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle for the 79.2-mile trek. Because this is a turn-heavy route, rely on your GPS early and often to stay on track through the local road segments. Take advantage of the lack of mandatory stops to make the trip as efficient as possible, allowing you to maximize your time once you arrive at your destination.
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 38.7 miles from Charlotte, NC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.4 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 47m 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 18m
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 Charlotte, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlotte, NC
This is one driving day of about 77.4 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Charlotte, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Julius Chambers Highway for about 45.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 76.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in|West Sugar Creek Road
Turn left onto West Sugar Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Win...
8
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 285; US 52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem
8
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 109B
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
7
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.10 one way
$24.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.23
$26.47
premium
$4.70
$14.33
$28.65
diesel
$5.61
$17.09
$34.18
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: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.13
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.77
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.84
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charlotte, NC
Evening
in Charlotte on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Evening
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
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
7 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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 79.2-mile path. You will navigate via West Sugar Creek Road, I-85 North, and the Julius Chambers Highway to reach your destination. Interestingly, the route features 0% highway share in terms of traditional long-haul cruising, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads. Since the longest stretch on any single road is 0 miles on West Sugar Creek Road, you should be prepared for a drive that requires your full attention. It is a technical, hands-on experience behind the wheel that differs significantly from a standard highway slog.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on Julius Chambers Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near West Sugar Creek Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.5 miles (West Sugar Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles (I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.6 miles (I 285; US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Charlotte is an ambitious and rapidly growing city in the southern part of the Piedmont of North Carolina. It is also developing its fledgling tourist industry; its central core is one of the most visitor-friendly districts in the Carolinas.
Charlotte's most popular attractions include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 77.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on Julius Chambers Highway. 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 Winston-Salem, 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 3.5 miles (West Sugar Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles (I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.6 miles (I 285; US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
