Greensboro to Windsor is 192 miles and takes about 3h 44m via US 64 and I-87, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on highways, making it a practical option for a quick trip. With a 95% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, so plan accordingly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.1 miles from Greensboro, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
80 mi
1h 26m
I 40
64.5 mi
1h 14m
I 87
16.8 mi
17m
US 13
12 mi
16m
I 440
9.2 mi
11m
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi
3m
East Gate City Boulevard
2.7 mi
5m
West Market Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 80 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greensboro, NC and Windsor, NC.
1
Start on West Market Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Market Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto South Dudley Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Dudley Street
3
Continue on Bennett Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Bennett Street
4
Turn left onto East Gate City Boulevard
2.7 mi·5 min·East Gate City Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 40 East, I 85 Business North
6
Merge onto I 40
34 mi·39 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
30 mi·34 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: RaleighUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
3.1 mi·3 min·Wade Avenue
Exit 289Toward Wade AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest
10
Merge onto I 440; US 1
9.2 mi·11 min·I 440; US 1
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·57 sec
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, GreenvilleUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
17 mi·17 min·I 87; US 64; US 264
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
80 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 64
14
Continue on US 13; US 17
12 mi·16 min·US 13; US 17
15
Turn right onto US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
0.3 mi·28 sec·US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
16
Turn left onto US 13 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·South Granville Street
17
Continue on US 13 BUS; NC 308
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Granville Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Granville Street
Trip Plan
This is a single-day trip, so you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. Given the 3h 44m driving time, consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination. The longest stretch without an exit is 80 miles on US 64, so ensure you have adequate fuel before entering this segment. With only one recommended stop and a low fuel cost, planning is minimal, offering flexibility for spontaneous breaks.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.1 miles from Greensboro, NC, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 42 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greensboro, 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 Greensboro, NC
This is one driving day of about 192.2 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Greensboro, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 80 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 81.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East, I 85 Business North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East, I 85 Business North
5
4.2 mi into trip|~9m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
38.4 mi into trip|~48m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Raleigh
8
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|SR 1728 / Wade Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Wade Avenue
7
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Roc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.06 one way
$60.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.86
$65.73
premium
$4.70
$35.57
$71.14
diesel
$5.61
$42.44
$84.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.7
0
$20.18
$9.23
Efficient EV
48.1
0
$16.82
$7.69
EV Truck/SUV
76.9
0
$26.91
$12.30
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 18, 2026
Origin
Greensboro, NC
Late night
in Greensboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Windsor, NC
Late night
in Windsor on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
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
3h 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive with 95% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter 192 miles of consistent travel, with the longest stretch without an exit being 80 miles on US 64. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this primarily highway corridor. The drive concludes on surface roads as you approach Windsor.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 192.2 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 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greensboro, NC and Windsor, NC, road signs point toward Wilson and Greenville.
Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 192.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on US 64. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Windsor, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Windsor, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
