Holly Ridge, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 230.1 miles and takes about 4h 35m via I 40 and NC 24/50, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Given it's mostly highway driving, you'll cover ground efficiently. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.1 miles from Holly Ridge, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
106.4 mi
2h 3m
NC 24
59.8 mi
1h 4m
NC 50
18.7 mi
26m
Salem Parkway
13.4 mi
16m
Ocean Road
12.2 mi
16m
Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi
12m
South Kenansville Bypass
3.9 mi
5m
NC 41
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 106.4 mi, about 2h 3m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 79 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,072 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,756
Quietest
2 AM
~224 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holly Ridge, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 17
99 ft·9 sec·Wilmington Highway
2
Turn left onto NC 50
12 mi·16 min·Ocean Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on NC 50
5.1 mi·7 min·NC 50
4
Turn right onto Old Maple Hill Road North
1.4 mi·1 min·Old Maple Hill Road North
5
Continue on Sycamore Springs Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Sycamore Springs Road
6
Turn right onto Cypress Creek Road
9.4 mi·12 min·Cypress Creek Road
7
Continue on NC 50
3.0 mi·4 min·NC 50
8
At end of road, turn left onto NC 41; NC 50
1.9 mi·2 min·NC 41; NC 50
9
Turn right onto NC 50
11 mi·14 min·NC 50
10
Turn left onto D S Williams Road
1.0 mi·1 min·D S Williams Road
11
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
3.9 mi·5 min·South Kenansville Bypass
12
Take the exit onto NC 24
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·NC 24
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
86 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi·15 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
13 mi·16 min·Salem Parkway
Exit 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4.5-hour drive, consider leaving Holly Ridge in the morning to arrive in Winston-Salem with plenty of afternoon time. With a manageable distance and a single recommended day, you have flexibility with stops. The longest stretch without a significant road change is over 100 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before or during that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $35 for this 230.1-mile trip.
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 115.1 miles from Holly Ridge, NC, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.4 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 51 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 miles or 2h 20m 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 44m
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 Holly Ridge, 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 Holly Ridge, NC
This is one driving day of about 230.1 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Holly Ridge, 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 I 40 for about 106.4 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 0 and 229.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|NC 50 / Ocean Road
Turn left onto NC 50 / Ocean Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
49.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|NC 24
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
216.1 mi into trip|~4h 17m 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
229.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m 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
$36.55 one way
$73.11 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$39.86
$79.72
premium
$4.78
$43.30
$86.60
diesel
$6.18
$55.98
$111.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69
0
$24.16
$11.04
Efficient EV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
EV Truck/SUV
92
1
$32.21
$14.73
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Holly Ridge, NC
Morning
in Holly Ridge on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
SW 1 to 10 mph7% chanceLive 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
36 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 15.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 87% of the 230.1 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll experience a longest stretch of 106.4 miles on I 40 before transitioning to NC 24 and NC 50. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate the highway sections, especially on I 40. The final portion will involve more surface road driving.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 50 / Ocean 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 14 significant decision points across 230.1 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: near the start (NC 50 / Ocean Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.9 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Old Salem — historic district and open-air museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
•Reynolds Building — historic skyscraper in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
•Home Moravian Church — church building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 230.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 40. 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 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. 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: near the start (NC 50 / Ocean Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.9 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Winston-Salem, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
