Origin
North Wilkesboro, NC
Morning in North Wilkesboro on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Wilkesboro, 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 8m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Wilkesboro, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This 55.4-mile drive from North Wilkesboro, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is an easy one-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 8 minutes to complete. It's a highway-focused journey, with 94% of the route utilizing major roads like US 421 and Oakwoods Road. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $9, making it an affordable option for a quick transition between locations within North Carolina. Given its brevity, you won't need to worry about overnight stops; this route is designed for straightforward travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 421 | 52.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| Oakwoods Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Wilkesboro Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Wilkesboro Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cherry Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cbd Loop | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 421
— 52.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Wilkesboro, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on this road
260 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto B Street
117 ft
·
11 sec
·
B Street
3
Turn left onto NC 18; NC 268
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Cbd Loop
4
Turn right onto NC 18; NC 268
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Wilkesboro Boulevard
5
Continue on NC 18; NC 268
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Wilkesboro Avenue
6
Continue on Oakwoods Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Oakwoods Road
7
Enter roundabout onto Oakwoods Road
112 ft
·
3 sec
·
Oakwoods Road
8
Continue on Oakwoods Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Oakwoods Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
10
Merge onto US 421
52 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 421
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
13
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
14
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from North Wilkesboro, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
B Street
At end of road, turn left onto B Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NC 18; NC 268 / Cbd Loop
Turn left onto NC 18; NC 268 / Cbd Loop
Navigation decision point
8
54.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.47 | $18.95 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.25 | $20.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
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
5 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 8m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 55.4-mile drive, with 94% of the journey on main roads. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, a considerable 52.2 miles, on US 421. This means you'll largely be on well-maintained roads designed for efficient travel. The route's profile is described as highway-focused, suggesting consistent speeds and limited dawdling, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours through local streets.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.2 mi on US 421.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 421 and Oakwoods Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near B Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (B Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 18; NC 268 / Cbd Loop): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.2 miles on US 421. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (B Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NC 18; NC 268 / Cbd Loop): Navigation decision point; at 54.6 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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