Spanning 101 miles, this trek from Elizabeth City to Winston-Salem typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travel. Because you remain within the Southeast throughout the drive, the transition between these two North Carolina locations feels cohesive. Whether you are heading west for business or a change of scenery, the route is efficient and keeps your total time on the road manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
54.6 mi
1h 1m
Startown Road
8.7 mi
11m
Cherryville Road
6.8 mi
10m
Lincolnton Highway
5.6 mi
7m
US 321 Business
4.9 mi
8m
Salem Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
West Church Street
2.3 mi
4m
State Road 1407
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Crystal Lane
424 ft·23 sec·Crystal Lane
2
Turn left onto NC 180
1.5 mi·2 min·North Post Road
3
Enter roundabout onto NC 150
20 ft·0 sec·Cherryville Road
4
Continue on NC 150
0.2 mi·16 sec·Cherryville Road
5
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 150
6.6 mi·9 min·Cherryville Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on NC 150
0.6 mi·1 min·Shelby Highway
7
Continue on NC 150
2.3 mi·4 min·West Church Street
8
Continue on NC 150
5.6 mi·7 min·Lincolnton Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on SR 1407
2.0 mi·3 min·State Road 1407
10
Turn slight right
300 ft·7 sec
11
Turn straight onto NC 27
201 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
12
Continue on NC 27
0.4 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
13
Turn left onto North Grove Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Grove Street
14
Continue on Reepsville Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Reepsville Road
15
Turn right onto Startown Road
8.7 mi·11 min·Startown Road
16
Turn right onto West Maiden Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·West Maiden Road
17
Turn left onto Sigmon Dairy Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Sigmon Dairy Road
18
Continue on Rome Jones Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Rome Jones Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 321 Business
4.9 mi·8 min·US 321 Business
20
Turn right onto US 70
1.0 mi·1 min·Conover Boulevard West
21
Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·45 sec·7th Avenue Northeast
22
Continue on Rockbarn Road
0.4 mi·39 sec·Rockbarn Road
23
Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast
1.0 mi·1 min·Rock Barn Road Northeast
24
Turn right
340 ft·9 sec
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
26
Merge onto I 40
55 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi·36 sec
Exit 188Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
28
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi·6 min·Salem Parkway
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 233BToward Marshall Street, TO Cherry StreetUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft·15 sec·High Street Southwest
31
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi·26 sec·Cherry Street South
32
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
34
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 14-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this 101-mile route, consider fueling up before you head out to maximize your $16 budget and avoid unnecessary detours. Because the majority of your time is spent on I-40, keep a close watch on signage as you merge onto the secondary roads like Startown and Cherryville toward the end of your trip. Staying alert during these transitions is key to a smooth arrival in Winston-Salem. Since this is a short trip, feel free to adjust your pace to suit your personal schedule.
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 50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 22 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 15m 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 51m
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 Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Elizabeth City, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 54.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 100.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|NC 150 / Cherryville Road
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 150 / Cherryville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
40.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
100.1 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
100.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
100.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.79 one way
$31.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.27
$34.54
premium
$4.70
$18.69
$37.39
diesel
$5.61
$22.30
$44.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.60
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Elizabeth City, NC
Morning
in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Newton, NC
51 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
13 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 14m 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 highway-focused experience, as roughly 64% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-40, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 54.6 miles. Beyond the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you navigate segments of Startown Road and Cherryville Road. This transition from high-speed travel to local corridors requires you to remain attentive to changing speed limits and traffic patterns. Overall, the drive offers a functional mix of fast-paced transit and more localized driving conditions.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Startown Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near NC 150 / Cherryville Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 101 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 1.8 miles (NC 150 / Cherryville Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 14m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 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 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 1.8 miles (NC 150 / Cherryville Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 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.
