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
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,278 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,688
Quietest
2 AM
~133 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 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 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse 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.
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
$36.56 one way
$73.11 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$40.17
$80.34
premium
$4.49
$43.79
$87.58
diesel
$4.80
$46.75
$93.50
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: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kure Beach, NC
Morning
in Kure Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 9 to 17 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 2 to 10 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:31AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
10 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 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 34.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
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 Effort6/10
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.
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 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.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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.
