Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 209.5 miles and takes about 4h 7m via I 40 and NC 24, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Given that 86% of this route is highway, you can expect a fairly direct drive. It's a single-day trip that won't eat up your entire day, leaving you time to explore your destination upon arrival.
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
104.7 miles from Richlands, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
106.4 mi
2h 3m
NC 24
59.8 mi
1h 4m
Beulaville Highway
20.8 mi
29m
Salem Parkway
13.4 mi
16m
South Kenansville Bypass
5.8 mi
8m
Richlands Highway
2.2 mi
3m
West Franck Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 106.4 mi, about 2h 3m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 79 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,181 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,722
Quietest
2 AM
~229 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richlands, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on South Wilmington Street
189 ft·10 sec·South Wilmington Street
2
Turn right onto West Franck Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·West Franck Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 258; NC 24
2.2 mi·3 min·Richlands Highway
4
Continue on US 258; NC 24
21 mi·29 min·Beulaville Highway
5
Turn left onto NC 24; NC 903
5.8 mi·8 min·South Kenansville Bypass
6
Take the exit onto NC 24
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·NC 24
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
86 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi·15 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
13 mi·16 min·Salem Parkway
Exit 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your time at your destination. Since it's a manageable distance, you can complete it in one day, and there's no need to split the drive. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 100 miles on I 40, so plan your fuel stops accordingly; the estimated fuel cost is around $35. Keep an eye out for the transition from the main interstate to NC 24, as this marks the shift to more rural cruising.
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 104.7 miles from Richlands, NC, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.4 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
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 Richlands, 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 Richlands, NC
This is one driving day of about 209.5 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Richlands, 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 I 40 for about 106.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.2 and 208.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.2 mi into trip|~42m in|NC 24
Take the exit onto NC 24
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
175.2 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
208.8 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
$30.93 one way
$61.86 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.99
$67.98
premium
$4.49
$37.05
$74.10
diesel
$4.80
$39.56
$79.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.00
$10.06
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.33
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.33
$13.41
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Richlands, NC
Late night
in Richlands on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 8 to 12 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 7:56PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night
in Winston-Salem on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 6 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 7:56PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
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
4h 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 86% of this 209.5-mile drive, primarily using I 40. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 106.4 miles, also on I 40. After that, you'll transition to surface roads like NC 24 and Beulaville Highway. Expect a fairly open road for most of the drive, with the highway portion offering a consistent cruising experience.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in near NC 24.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 209.5 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 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4h 7m. Total distance: 209.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.2 miles (NC 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 175.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Winston-Salem, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
