Origin
Clayton, NC
Night in Clayton on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clayton, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
120.6 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clayton, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 120.6-mile drive from Clayton, NC, to Winston-Salem, NC, is a manageable one-day trip, taking about 2 hours and 25 minutes. You'll primarily use the Dan K Moore Freeway and I-40, with a short section on Salem Parkway, making it a 96% highway-focused journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this route is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The drive is straightforward, designed for efficient travel between these two North Carolina locations within the Southeast region. It's a perfect length for a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Clayton, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dan K Moore Freeway | 69.7 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 40 | 20.3 mi | 24m |
| Salem Parkway | 13.4 mi | 16m |
| Thomas Bradshaw Freeway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| US 70 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Clayton Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Lombard Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dan K Moore Freeway
— 69.7 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on North Lombard Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lombard Street
2
Turn right onto Hamby Street
427 ft
·
15 sec
·
Hamby Street
3
Turn left onto Barbour Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Barbour Street
4
Turn straight onto US 70
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Clayton Boulevard
5
Continue on US 70
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 70
6
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 West: Raleigh
7
Merge onto I 40
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 40; US 64
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
9
Continue on I 40; US 64
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Thomas Bradshaw Freeway
10
Continue on I 40; US 64
67 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Dan K Moore Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Salem Parkway
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 25-minute duration and 120.6-mile distance, this trip is best suited for a single day, with no need to split it. Consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you approach Winston-Salem. While there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $19, so you should have ample range, but it's always wise to top off before embarking. A specific tip for this route: be aware that the Dan K Moore Freeway eventually merges into I-40, so stay alert for lane changes as you transition.
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 60.3 miles from Clayton, NC, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
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 Clayton, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clayton, NC
This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Clayton, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dan K Moore Freeway for about 69.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.3 miles from Clayton, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dan K Moore Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.7 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 120 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Barbour Street
Turn left onto Barbour Street
Navigation decision point
6
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m 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
94 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m 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
106.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m 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
7
120 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
$18.86 one way
$37.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.62 | $41.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $22.32 | $44.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.63 | $53.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.66 | $5.79 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.55 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.88 | $7.72 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Night in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Hillsborough, NC
60 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 25m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 96% of the journey on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 69.7 miles along the Dan K Moore Freeway. This means you'll be on high-speed roads for the majority of the drive, offering a consistent pace. While not a winding, scenic byway, the efficiency of the interstate system allows for smooth and direct travel between Clayton and Winston-Salem. The character is largely about covering distance effectively on well-maintained roads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.7 mi on Dan K Moore Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Dan K Moore Freeway and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Barbour Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 120.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Barbour Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →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.
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 2h 25m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.7 miles on Dan K Moore Freeway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Barbour Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 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 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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