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Trip from Kure Beach, 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

4h 48m

Distance

247.6 mi

398 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 35m ★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Kure Beach, NC, NC

Kure Beach, NC

Aneesh Prodduturu

Trip Overview

Embarking from Kure Beach, NC, to Winston-Salem, NC, this 225.6-mile journey will take you approximately 4 hours and 2 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it offers a straightforward drive with an estimated fuel cost of $36. The route is characterized by its numerous turns, suggesting a local, less highway-dependent experience. This drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in North Carolina. Given the duration and distance, it's perfectly manageable for a single day's travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.

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

123.8 miles from Kure Beach, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Michael Jordan Highway 107.3 mi 1h 55m
I 40 106.4 mi 2h 3m
Salem Parkway 13.4 mi 16m
South College Road 9.3 mi 15m
Carolina Beach Road 6.1 mi 9m
Dow Road South 3.5 mi 5m
Avenue K 0.5 mi 1m
South Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Michael Jordan Highway — 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kure Beach, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.

1

Start on US 421

525 ft · 14 sec · Fort Fisher Boulevard South
2

Turn left onto Avenue K

0.5 mi · 1 min · Avenue K
3

Continue on Dow Road South

3.5 mi · 5 min · Dow Road South
4

Turn left onto US 421

0.4 mi · 51 sec · North Lake Park Boulevard
5

Continue on US 421

6.1 mi · 9 min · Carolina Beach Road
6

Continue on NC 132

9.3 mi · 15 min · South College Road
7

Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132

107 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Michael Jordan Highway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

86 mi · 1 hr 38 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421

13 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway
Exit 206 Toward US 421 North: Kernersville Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 233A Toward Main Street Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour, 2-minute drive covering 225.6 miles, starting earlier in the day is advisable to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of $36, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means frequent adjustments are necessary. Ensure your vehicle is fueled and ready before you leave Kure Beach, as opportunities for gas stations might be less frequent between towns on this more local path.

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 123.8 miles from Kure Beach, NC, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 54 miles or 1h 9m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 123.8 miles or 2h 23m 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 54m

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 Kure Beach, 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 Kure Beach, NC

This is one driving day of about 247.6 miles and 4h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Kure Beach, 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 Michael Jordan Highway for about 107.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and state capital of North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raleigh, NC

124 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.

Popular next leg

Raleigh, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

104 mi · 2h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

Wallace, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coats, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 123.8 miles from Kure Beach, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Michael Jordan Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 225.6

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Raleigh, North Carolina

1.5 mi

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 225.6

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

Sosta Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 128.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19198331006

Visit website

Pam's Farmhouse Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 128.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+19198599990

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 16.1

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 177.3

Haw River, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 16.1

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.9 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 16.1

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 48.3

Wallace, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 16.1

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 48.3

Wallace, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 16.1

Wilmington, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Graham Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 177.3

Haw River, North Carolina

+13365706718

Visit website

All A Flutter Farms LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 209.5

High Point, North Carolina

+13364545651

Visit website

Nature Research Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 128.9

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19197079800

Visit website

Children's Museum of Alamance County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 177.3

Graham, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13362287997

Visit website

Lake Crabtree County Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 145

Morrisville, North Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+19194603390

Visit website

Wrightsville Beach Scenic Boat Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 16.1

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

Visit website

Safari Nation Winston-Salem

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 225.6

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13365233355

Visit website

Adventure Landing Winston-Salem

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 225.6

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367684730

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 127.2 and 247 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
127.2 mi into trip | ~2h 27m 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.
6
213.3 mi into trip | ~4h 6m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
221 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in | I 40; US 220

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
233.6 mi into trip | ~4h 31m 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
247 mi into trip | ~4h 47m 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

$38.72 one way

$77.44 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $42.34 $84.67
premium $4.70 $45.83 $91.65
diesel $5.61 $54.67 $109.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.3 0 $26.00 $11.88
Efficient EV 61.9 0 $21.67 $9.90
EV Truck/SUV 99 1 $34.66 $15.85

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Kure Beach, NC

Morning in Kure Beach on Sunday

Local time

6:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Morning in Winston-Salem on Sunday

Local time

6:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live 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

15 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

4h 48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter a significant number of turns rather than long stretches of highway. With a 0% highway share, expect to navigate through local roads like Avenue K, Dow Road South, and North Lake Park Boulevard for the majority of your trip. There isn't a 'longest stretch' data point, but this indicates a continuous need for attention to navigation. The road conditions will likely shift as you move through different towns and rural areas, requiring constant engagement with your surroundings.

48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 127.2 miles in near I 40.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 247.6 miles you will encounter 6 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 127.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4h 48m. Total distance: 247.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. 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: at 127.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 221 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Winston-Salem, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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