Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salisbury, NC
Wikimedia Commons
High Point to Salisbury is 36.7 miles and takes about 46m via US 29 and I-85, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within North Carolina, moving you from the Piedmont Triad region to the central part of the state. It's a straightforward highway-focused journey, perfect for when you need to cover a moderate distance without a lot of fuss. Consider this drive if you're looking for efficiency and a quick connection between these two North Carolina cities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 29 | 18.6 mi | 22m |
| I 85 | 10.8 mi | 11m |
| I 285 | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Innes Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| West Market Center Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Surrett Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 52 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between High Point, NC and Salisbury, NC.
Start on South Main Street
Turn right onto West Market Center Drive
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 29
Continue on US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70
Merge onto US 29; US 64; US 70
Continue on US 29; US 70
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Continue on I 85; US 52
Take the exit onto US 52
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto East Innes Street
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from High Point, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 35.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Surrett Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29; US 70 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 64 West, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Salisbury, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.28 | $12.55 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.79 | $13.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 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 | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in High Point on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Salisbury on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
55°F
Lexington, NC
18 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major interstates and highways. You'll experience stretches like an uninterrupted 18.6 miles on US 29, offering a consistent pace. The primary roads, including US 29, I-85, and I-285, suggest a driving experience characterized by higher speeds and a focus on covering ground efficiently. Expect a smooth, albeit potentially less varied, journey as you transition between these well-maintained roadways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 29 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Surrett Drive.
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 11 decision points packed into just 36.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Surrett Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles (US 29; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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