Origin
Trinity, NC
Morning in Trinity on Tuesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trinity, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trinity, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Trinity, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 27 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 74 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a short trip, ideal for a quick journey or as part of a larger regional exploration. Given the minimal driving time, you won't need extensive planning, but it’s good to know your fuel costs are low for this segment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 16.2 mi | 19m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| I 40 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Brentwood Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| NC 62 | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Archdale Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 16.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trinity, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on NC 62
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
NC 62
2
Turn left onto Archdale Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Archdale Road
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Turn right
152 ft
·
5 sec
5
Turn right onto NC 610
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Fairfield Road
6
Turn left onto Brentwood Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brentwood Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto East Green Drive
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Green Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
9
Merge onto I 74
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 74
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 74
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
11
Merge onto I 40
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 109B
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Salem Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 26.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Brentwood Street
Turn left onto Brentwood Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 74
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74 toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
6
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 109B
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
$4.22 one way
$8.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.62 | $9.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.00 | $9.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.96 | $11.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.36 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
20 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
37m 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?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 74 and I 40. You'll experience mostly uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 16.2 miles on I 74. Expect a consistent driving pace on these well-maintained highways. The transition between roads is generally smooth, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, making it a practical commute.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.2 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and John Gold Memorial Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near Brentwood Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 27 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (Brentwood Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Trinity, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.
Statesville
20.3 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 74
About the Cities
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →Founded 1766
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
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 37m. Total distance: 27 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.2 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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: at 2.6 miles (Brentwood Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles (I 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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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