Origin
Madison, NC
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, NC
Josh Sorenson
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Madison to Winston-Salem, you are in for a quick 30.8-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance makes an overnight stay unnecessary. Budgeting around $5 for fuel covers the expenses for this straightforward Southeast transit. Because both cities are located within the same region of North Carolina, you will find the transition between them seamless and familiar. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring extensive logistical planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 158 | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| US 220 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| NC 68 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| East Academy Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Belews Creek Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 158
— 18.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 220 Business; NC 704
23 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn left onto US 311; US 220 Business; NC 704
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Academy Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto US 220
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 220
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 220
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 220
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 68
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
NC 68
Toward NC 68 South
8
Turn right onto NC 65
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Belews Creek Road
9
Continue on US 158
18 mi
·
25 min
·
US 158
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Madison, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 30.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 220
Merge onto US 220
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NC 68
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 68 toward NC 68 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NC 68 South
7
30.1 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
$4.80 one way
$9.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Late night in Winston-Salem on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
N 1 to 5 mph
0% chance
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
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
45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on East Academy Street, NC 68 South, and Belews Creek Road to navigate the landscape. With 0% of the drive spent on major highways, you will navigate local thoroughfares rather than high-speed lanes. The road profile is consistent, featuring no long, uninterrupted stretches; in fact, the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Academy Street. This character makes for a hands-on drive that rewards attentive steering as you transition between these two North Carolina towns.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on US 158.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 158 and US 220. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near US 220.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (US 220): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Madison, NC
Full guide →Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →Founded 1766
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
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 45m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on US 158. 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 1.5 miles (US 220): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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