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Trip from Manteo, 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

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 35m ★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m

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

Downtown Manteo, NC, NC

Manteo, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: US 64 — 67.3 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 64

1.5 mi · 3 min · N US Highway 64
2

Take the ramp

180 ft · 5 sec
3

Merge onto US 64 BYP

18 mi · 24 min · US 64 BYP
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 64

67 mi · 1 hr 27 min · US 64
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left onto US 13; US 17

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 13; US 17
6

Continue on US 13; US 64

57 mi · 1 hr 1 min · US 13; US 64
7

Continue on US 64 Bypass

28 mi · 29 min · US 64 Bypass
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
9

Keep slight right at fork

309 ft · 7 sec
Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
10

Turn right onto Rolesville Road

2.4 mi · 4 min · Rolesville Road
11

Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Marks Creek Road
12

Turn right onto Horton Road

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Horton Road
13

Turn right onto Buffaloe Road

3.8 mi · 6 min · Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 23 sec
15

Merge onto I 540

15 mi · 16 min · Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
16

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 70 West: Durham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto US 70

1.9 mi · 2 min · Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 70

2.5 mi · 3 min · New Raleigh Highway
19

Continue on US 70

9.3 mi · 12 min · South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70

42 mi · 48 min · I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
23

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.
24

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 233A Toward Main Street Use the slight right lane.
25

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
26

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.7 miles from Manteo, NC, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Manteo, 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 US 64 for about 67.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Franklin County, North Carolina

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklinton, NC

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Plymouth, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rocky Mount, NC

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

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.

6
19.9 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 64

Keep slight left at fork onto US 64

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
173.5 mi into trip | ~3h 28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 14 Toward Rolesville Road
6
196.5 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in

Take the exit toward US 70 West: Durham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 70 West: Durham
8
273.3 mi into trip | ~5h 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
286.7 mi into trip | ~5h 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

$44.93 one way

$89.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Manteo, NC

Night in Manteo on Saturday

Local time

9:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Night in Winston-Salem on Saturday

Local time

9:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

30 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

5h 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.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Wright Brothers National Memorial

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...

7 mi from route ~19 min detour $10
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 mi on US 64.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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.

Driving Effort 9/10

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.

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 67.3 miles on US 64. 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 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.

Yes — Wright Brothers National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Winston-Salem, NC before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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