Origin
East Spencer, NC
Morning in East Spencer on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Spencer, 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
45m
Distance
35.9 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Spencer, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
East Spencer to Winston-Salem is 35.9 miles and takes about 45 minutes via I-285 and I-85, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive primarily on interstate highways, connecting two points within North Carolina's Southeast region. You'll mostly be on major roads, making it a practical choice for a quick transfer or a segment of a larger journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss, as it prioritizes speed and directness.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 285 | 25.6 mi | 29m |
| I 85 | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Long Es Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Long Ferry Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Weant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 285
— 25.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Spencer, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Weant Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Weant Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto South Long Es Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Long Es Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Long Ferry Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Ferry Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 85 North, US 52 North: Greensboro
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 85; US 52
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 109B
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Salem Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from East Spencer, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 35.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 North, US 52 North: Greensboro
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 North, US 52 North: Greensboro
8
9 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
13.1 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
34.6 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
35.3 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
$5.61 one way
$11.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.64 | $13.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.93 | $15.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
6:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Midway, NC
18 mi in
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
6 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
45m 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 heavily highway-focused drive on this route, with 89% of the journey taking place on interstates like I-285 and I-85. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.6 miles on I-285, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and speed, typical of interstate travel across the Southeast. You’ll experience the predictable flow of highway driving with limited deviations onto local roads like South Long Street.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.6 mi on I 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 285 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 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 10 decision points packed into just 35.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 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 13.1 miles (I 285; US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 45m. Total distance: 35.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.6 miles on I 285. 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 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 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 13.1 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.
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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