Origin
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC
Morning in Lake Norman of Catawba on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Norman of Catawba, 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
1h 19m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
Lake Norman of Catawba to Winston-Salem is 63.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via I-40, I-77, and East NC 150 Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. With its short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 34.4 mi | 37m |
| I 77 | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| East NC 150 Highway | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Kiser Island Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cherry Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Riverwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 34.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Norman of Catawba, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Riverwood Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Riverwood Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Kiser Island Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Kiser Island Road
3
Turn right onto NC 150
6.5 mi
·
10 min
·
East NC 150 Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 77
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 51
Toward I 40: Winston-Salem, Asheville
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 51A
Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
9
Merge onto I 40
34 mi
·
37 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
11
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
14
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
15
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Lake Norman of Catawba, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 77 North: Statesville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
7
22.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
8
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.95 one way
$19.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.87 | $21.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Mocksville, NC
32 mi in
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
8 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
1h 19m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 94% of the journey utilizing major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving on I-40 for 34.4 miles. The profile suggests a focus on efficient travel, meaning you'll likely be on well-maintained interstate and highway systems for the majority of your trip. While primarily highway, the inclusion of East NC 150 Highway might offer a slight variation in scenery as you approach your destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 7.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Norman of Catawba, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
21.9 mi in
|
~30m
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 1h 19m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 7.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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