Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Unionville, 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 45m

Distance

86.3 mi

139 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Unionville, NC, NC

Unionville, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

This 93.5-mile journey from Unionville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is a straightforward, single-day trip that will take approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes to complete. With a projected fuel cost of around $15, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads, offering a more direct, turn-heavy driving experience rather than highway cruising. Since it's a relatively short drive, you won't need an overnight stay, giving you flexibility in your timing. Both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast region, so you'll be staying within familiar territory for this NC-to-NC drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.1 miles from Unionville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 285 25.6 mi 29m
Concord Highway 25.5 mi 31m
US 601 25.4 mi 29m
I 85 3.8 mi 4m
Concord Parkway North 3.4 mi 4m
East Unionville-Indian Trail Road 1.3 mi 4m
Salem Parkway 0.4 mi <1m
South Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 285 — 25.6 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Boyd Griffin Road

155 ft · 9 sec · Boyd Griffin Road
2

Turn right onto East Unionville-Indian Trail Road

1.3 mi · 4 min · East Unionville-Indian Trail Road
3

Turn right onto US 601

26 mi · 31 min · Concord Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the exit onto US 601; NC 73 Truck

0.1 mi · 19 sec · US 601; NC 73 Truck
5

Merge onto US 29; US 601; NC 73 Truck

3.4 mi · 4 min · Concord Parkway North
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the exit onto US 601

25 mi · 28 min · US 601
Toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70

4.1 mi · 4 min · I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52

22 mi · 24 min · I 285; US 52
Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 109B Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Salem Parkway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 233A Toward Main Street Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 34-minute duration and 93.5-mile distance, this trip from Unionville to Winston-Salem is easily manageable in one day. You could leave in the morning and be in Winston-Salem by lunchtime, or depart later for an afternoon arrival. With no significant highway stretches and a low fuel cost of $15, you likely won't need extensive stops. However, since it's a local road drive, pay close attention to speed limit changes and be ready for frequent turns as indicated by the route's profile. A good tip is to check your GPS for the most direct sequence of turns before you depart to ensure a smooth, efficient drive.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.1 miles from Unionville, NC, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.6 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 19 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.1 miles or 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 29m

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 Unionville, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Unionville, NC

This is one driving day of about 86.3 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Unionville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 285 for about 25.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concord, NC

43 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

Concord, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salisbury, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Unionville, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.5

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

The Holy Grind Coffee House of Concord

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Concord, North Carolina

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 26.7

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17049604013

Visit website

Verb Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Concord, North Carolina

0.4 mi

Koco Java coffee llc

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Salisbury, North Carolina

1.1 mi

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.5

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

The Holy Grind Coffee House of Concord

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 26.7

Concord, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17049604013

Visit website

Verb Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.4

Concord, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17049604163

Visit website

Koco Java coffee llc

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv mile 53.4

Salisbury, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+19802480633

Visit website

French Express Coffee House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.4

Kannapolis, North Carolina

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17049325282

Visit website

Press & Porter Coffee & Pourhouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 26.7

Concord, North Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Mattie Ruth's Coffee House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 33.4

Concord, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Visit website

The Holy Grind Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 40.1

China Grove, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17048591844

Visit website

Veni Vidi Vici Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 40.1

Kannapolis, North Carolina

Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm

+17043039008

Visit website

Bell Tower Green

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 53.4

Salisbury, North Carolina

+17046370511

Visit website

Safari Nation Winston-Salem

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 86.8

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13365233355

Visit website

Baker's Creek Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 40.1

Kannapolis, North Carolina

+17049388512

Visit website

North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 33.4

Kannapolis, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+17049342320

Visit website

Adventure Landing Winston-Salem

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 93.5

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367684730

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 30.3 and 85.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
30.3 mi into trip | ~40m in | US 601

Take the exit onto US 601 toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North, US 601 North: Greensboro
8
59.4 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70

Keep slight right at fork onto I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Winston-Salem

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Lexington, Win...
8
63.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 285; US 52

Keep slight left at fork onto I 285; US 52 toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 285 North, US 52 North: Winston-Salem
8
85 mi into trip | ~1h 42m 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
85.6 mi into trip | ~1h 43m 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

$13.50 one way

$26.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $14.76 $29.51
premium $4.70 $15.97 $31.94
diesel $5.61 $19.05 $38.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.9 0 $9.06 $4.14
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.55 $3.45
EV Truck/SUV 34.5 0 $12.08 $5.52

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Unionville, NC

Morning in Unionville on Sunday

Local time

7:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Morning in Winston-Salem on Sunday

Local time

7:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Concord, NC

43 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

32 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 45m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 93.5-mile stretch, with no highway mileage to speak of. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including East Unionville-Indian Trail Road and Concord Highway, for the entire duration. The absence of major highways suggests a more engaged driving experience, potentially with more frequent intersections and varying speed limits. While there's no information on the longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile indicates you'll be making regular adjustments to your direction throughout the 1 hour and 34-minute journey.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.6 mi on I 285.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 285 and Concord Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.3 miles in near US 601.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 30.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles (I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles (I 285; US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 45m. Total distance: 86.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.6 miles on I 285. 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 30.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.4 miles (I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles (I 285; US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Winston-Salem, NC

Masonboro, NC 230.8 mi · 4h 30m Belville, NC 225.3 mi · 4h 26m Brices Creek, NC 219.8 mi · 4h 28m Flat Rock, NC 159.4 mi · 3h 18m

More from Unionville, NC

Chapel Hill, NC 184.4 mi · 4h 8m Jaars, NC 23.4 mi · 37m

More trips to Winston-Salem, NC

Manteo, NC 287.3 mi Boiling Springs, NC 263.5 mi Kure Beach, NC 247.6 mi Southport, NC 243 mi Wilmington, NC 235.3 mi Wrightsville Beach, NC 234.3 mi
Escape planner: Unionville, NC Scenic drives in NC

Explore more options from Unionville, NC or browse trips ending in Winston-Salem, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.