Origin
Manteo, NC
Night in Manteo on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 48m
Distance
287.3 mi
462 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manteo, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Traveling from Manteo to Winston-Salem covers 292.4 miles across the state of North Carolina. You should budget approximately 4 hours and 38 minutes of drive time, making this a manageable journey to complete in a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $47, it is a relatively affordable trip, though the route is not a simple interstate sprint. Since you are staying within the Southeast region, the environment transitions from the coast toward the interior. Whether you are heading west for business or leisure, this one-day itinerary offers a direct way to cross the state without needing an overnight stop.
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
143.7 miles from Manteo, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 64 | 67.3 mi | 1h 27m |
| US 13 | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 85 | 42.3 mi | 48m |
| US 64 Bypass | 27.8 mi | 29m |
| I 40 | 20.3 mi | 24m |
| US 64 BYP | 18.4 mi | 24m |
| Northern Wake Expressway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Salem Parkway | 13.4 mi | 16m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manteo, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
Start on US 64
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 64 BYP
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Turn left onto US 13; US 17
Continue on US 13; US 64
Continue on US 64 Bypass
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
Turn right onto Horton Road
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 540
Take the exit
Merge onto US 70
Continue on US 70
Continue on US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
Arrive at destination
Plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly five-hour duration and keep your energy levels steady. Since this is a specialized local route, avoid peak traffic hours to ensure your travel time stays close to the 4-hour and 38-minute estimate. With a fuel budget of $47, it is wise to monitor your gauge early, as local roads may have fewer fueling options than major interstates. Take advantage of the flexibility this route offers by pacing your stop in the middle of the trip to stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your navigation system, as the reliance on local roads like Marks Creek Road requires frequent attention to turns.
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.
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 63 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Manteo, 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 Manteo, NC
This is one driving day of about 287.3 miles and 5h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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.
A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 143.7 miles from Manteo, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 64 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.9 and 286.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 70 West: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$44.93 one way
$89.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $49.12 | $98.25 |
| premium | $4.70 | $53.17 | $106.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.43 | $126.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.17 | $13.79 |
| Efficient EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.14 | $11.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.9 | 1 | $40.22 | $18.39 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Manteo on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
50°F
Franklinton, NC
144 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Memorial
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane fli...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads, primarily Highway 64, Rolesville Road, and Marks Creek Road. Because the path relies on these smaller thoroughfares, you will experience a more technical pace compared to major expressways. Stay alert behind the wheel, as the road character shifts frequently while you transition between these specific local connectors. This setup keeps the drive engaging, though it requires more active attention than a typical highway cruise.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and US 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in near US 64.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 287.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 173.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 196.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 287.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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