Hoopers Creek, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 151.8 miles and takes about 3h via I 40 and Salem Parkway, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the western part of the state to the central Piedmont region. Expect a journey that's primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. The relatively short duration and predictable route make it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
75.9 miles from Hoopers Creek, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
136 mi
2h 34m
Mills Gap Road
4.9 mi
8m
Salem Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
Sweeten Creek Road
4 mi
6m
Burney Mountain Road
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
<1m
West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 136 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoopers Creek, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Hoopers Creek Road
46 ft·5 sec·Hoopers Creek Road
2
Turn left onto Burney Mountain Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Burney Mountain Road
3
Turn right onto Mills Gap Road
4.9 mi·8 min·Mills Gap Road
4
Turn right onto US 25A
4.0 mi·6 min·Sweeten Creek Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 40
136 mi·2 hr 34 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·36 sec
Exit 188Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
8
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi·6 min·Salem Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 233BToward Marshall Street, TO Cherry StreetUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft·15 sec·High Street Southwest
11
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi·26 sec·Cherry Street South
12
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour travel time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Winston-Salem, and you won't need to worry about splitting the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 136-mile stretch on I 40, as services might be spaced out. The $24 fuel cost estimate suggests budgeting for at least one fill-up, so plan your stops accordingly.
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 75.9 miles from Hoopers Creek, NC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Hoopers Creek, 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 Hoopers Creek, NC
This is one driving day of about 151.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Hoopers Creek, 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 136 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 151.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.5 mi into trip|~9m in|US 25A / Sweeten Creek Road
Turn right onto US 25A / Sweeten Creek Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
9.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
150.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
151.3 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
151.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.74 one way
$47.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.96
$51.91
premium
$4.70
$28.09
$56.19
diesel
$5.61
$33.52
$67.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.94
$7.29
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.28
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hoopers Creek, NC
Morning
in Hoopers Creek on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Marion, NC
76 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
29 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 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roads like I 40 and Salem Parkway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 136 miles on I 40, which forms the backbone of this journey. While mostly interstate, the initial and final segments might involve more local road navigation as you enter and exit your starting and ending points. The profile suggests a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground quickly on this predominantly high-speed route.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Mills Gap Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 25A / Sweeten Creek Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 25A / Sweeten Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 150.9 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 3h. Total distance: 151.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 25A / Sweeten Creek Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Winston-Salem, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
