Spanning 86.2 miles, the journey from Jefferson to Winston-Salem serves as an ideal day trip through the Southeast. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes, making it a manageable excursion that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $14, this route is an economical choice for those looking to travel between these two North Carolina locations. Because the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. Whether you are heading into the city for business or pleasure, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a practical option for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Jefferson, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 221 Business; NC 88
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 221; NC 88
0.9 mi·2 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on NC 16; NC 88
3.1 mi·4 min·NC 16; NC 88
4
Turn right onto NC 16
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 16
5
Turn right onto J W Luke Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·J W Luke Road
6
Turn slight left onto Trading Post Road
217 ft·3 sec·Trading Post Road
7
Turn right onto NC 16
19 mi·27 min·NC 16
8
Turn left onto US 421
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·Watson Brame Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
Since the 1 hour and 36 minute trip is short, you can easily complete it in one go without the need for scheduled stops. Aim to fuel up your vehicle before departing Jefferson, keeping your $14 budget in mind to ensure a smooth transition to Winston-Salem. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, check your GPS ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the turns on J W Luke Road and Trading Post Road. Taking the trip during daylight hours is highly recommended to better navigate the turns effectively. Keeping your pace steady is the best way to handle this technical, local-road-heavy journey comfortably.
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 43.1 miles from Jefferson, NC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 1h 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 36m
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 Jefferson, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jefferson, NC
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Jefferson, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Watson Brame Expressway for about 57.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 85.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in|NC 16
Turn right onto NC 16
Navigation decision point
8
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m 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
5
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|Cherry Street South
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
Navigation decision point
7
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
85.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.74
$29.48
premium
$4.70
$15.95
$31.91
diesel
$5.61
$19.03
$38.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.54
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 14, 2026
Origin
Jefferson, NC
Morning
in Jefferson on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 to 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 13 at 8:41PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 8:14PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
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
7 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
1h 52m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 86.2-mile stretch. Since the highway share is 0%, you will navigate entirely on local roads, including East Main Street, J W Luke Road, and Trading Post Road. You should stay alert behind the wheel, as the technical nature of these roads requires your full attention compared to a standard highway haul. Without any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the driving experience remains engaging and varied from start to finish. Prepare for a winding path that shifts away from the typical fast-paced transit routes found elsewhere in the region.
97% 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: 57.6 mi on Watson Brame Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Watson Brame Expressway and NC 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near NC 16.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (NC 16): Navigation decision point; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.5 miles (Cherry Street South): Navigation decision point.
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
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on Watson Brame Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (NC 16): Navigation decision point; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.5 miles (Cherry Street South): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winston-Salem, NC before heading back.
