Nags Head, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 293.4 miles and takes about 5h 56m via US 64 and I-85, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within North Carolina, moving from the coastal Southeast region inland towards the Piedmont. With 83% of the drive on highways, you'll experience a mostly highway profile, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. If you're looking for a direct connection between these two points in NC, this route offers that efficiency.
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
146.7 miles from Nags Head, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m 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
Washington Baum Bridge
20.7 mi
27m
I 40
20.3 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 Nags Head, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on NC 12
78 ft·3 sec·South Virginia Dare Trail
2
Turn right onto East Soundside Road
473 ft·24 sec·East Soundside Road
3
Turn left onto US 158
3.8 mi·6 min·South Croatan Highway
4
Continue on US 64
1.4 mi·2 min·South Virginia Dare Trail
5
Continue on US 64
21 mi·27 min·Washington Baum Bridge
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
67 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto US 13; US 17
1.8 mi·2 min·US 13; US 17
8
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 13; US 64
9
Continue on US 64 Bypass
28 mi·29 min·US 64 Bypass
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
11
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft·7 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
12
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Rolesville Road
13
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Marks Creek Road
14
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi·43 sec·Horton Road
15
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
17
Merge onto I 540
15 mi·16 min·Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 70 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·New Raleigh Highway
21
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi·12 min·South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
42 mi·48 min·I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi·15 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
13 mi·16 min·Salem Parkway
Exit 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 5h 56m drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Winston-Salem before dark. Since the drive is under 6 hours and has a high highway share, you likely won't need to split it, offering flexibility for when you depart. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before hitting the longest stretch of 67.3 miles on US 64, as services can be more spaced out on these highways. Your estimated fuel cost is around $45, so plan accordingly for stops.
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 146.7 miles from Nags Head, NC, or about 3h 1m 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 65 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.7 miles or 3h 1m 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 53m
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 Nags Head, 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 Nags Head, NC
This is one driving day of about 293.4 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Nags Head, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 26 and 292.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
26 mi into trip|~36m 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
179.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
6
202.6 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
279.4 mi into trip|~5h 39m 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
292.7 mi into trip|~5h 55m 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
$43.32 one way
$86.63 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$47.60
$95.20
premium
$4.49
$51.89
$103.78
diesel
$4.80
$55.40
$110.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88
1
$30.81
$14.08
Efficient EV
73.4
0
$25.67
$11.74
EV Truck/SUV
117.4
1
$41.08
$18.78
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Nags Head, NC
Morning
in Nags Head on Sunday
Local time
10:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 16 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:45AM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 2:23AM EDT until July 19 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 3 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:45AM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 2:23AM EDT until July 19 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
7 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 56m 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
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on interstates and major US highways, as 83% of this drive is on highways. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 67.3 miles on US 64. Expect a relatively smooth drive with a high highway share, meaning fewer turns and more consistent speeds for extended periods. The transition to surface roads will occur after these longer highway segments.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 26 miles in near US 64.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 293.4 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 26 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 179.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 202.6 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.
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 5h 56m. Total distance: 293.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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.
Yes — we found about 12 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 179.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 202.6 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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 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.
