Origin
Kernersville, NC
Morning in Kernersville on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kernersville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
10.5 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kernersville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 10.5-mile drive from Kernersville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC takes approximately 14 minutes and is best suited as a quick hop rather than an overnight trip. With no highway driving, you'll be navigating local streets for the entire journey. The estimated fuel cost is a very manageable $2, making it an economical choice. This route is entirely within the Southeast region, offering a familiar local feel. It's a straightforward trip perfect for a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Parkway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| South Cherry Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Mountain Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Salem Parkway
— 8.4 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kernersville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on West Mountain Street
338 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Mountain Street
2
Turn left onto South Cherry Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cherry Street
3
Turn straight onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 421 North, NC 150 West: Winston-Salem
5
Merge onto US 421; NC 150
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Cherry Street
Turn left onto South Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 421 North, NC 150 West: Winston-Salem
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 421 North, NC 150 West: Winston-Salem
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Merge onto US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
3
10.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
South Main Street
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.64 one way
$3.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.80 | $3.59 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.94 | $3.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.32 | $4.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28 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
14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with 0% highway share. You'll primarily be on South Cherry Street and South Main Street, transitioning to US 421 North. The drive doesn't feature long, uninterrupted stretches, suggesting frequent intersections and traffic lights. This isn't a high-speed journey; rather, it's a more engaged, city-style navigation experience where you'll be mindful of local traffic patterns as you make your way.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on Salem Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Salem Parkway and South Cherry Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Cherry Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 14m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 10.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.4 miles on Salem Parkway. 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 0.1 miles (South Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winston-Salem, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
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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