Origin
Welcome, NC
Afternoon in Welcome on Tuesday
Local time
1:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Welcome, 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
21m
Distance
15.4 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Welcome, NC
Đan Thy Nguyễn Mai
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Welcome to Winston-Salem, you are in for a quick 16.1-mile journey that typically takes about 21 minutes. This short transit across the North Carolina Southeast region is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays or complex planning. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an incredibly cost-effective trip for commuters or casual travelers alike. You will navigate using a combination of Highway 52 and US 158 West to reach your destination. Because the distance is so manageable, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows without worrying about long-haul logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 285 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Old US Hwy 52 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Old US Highway 52 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 285
— 10.7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Welcome, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on this road
108 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
67 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn right onto Old US Highway 52
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US Highway 52
4
Continue on Old US Hwy 52
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Old US Hwy 52
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 285; US 52; NC 8
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 285; US 52; NC 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 109B
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Salem Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.8 — 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
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 285; US 52; NC 8
Merge onto I 285; US 52; NC 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
14.2 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
14.8 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
$2.41 one way
$4.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.63 | $5.27 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Tuesday
Local time
1:00 PM
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
18 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
21m 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 rather than a mindless interstate cruise on this route. While you will utilize Highway 52 and US 158 West, the path is defined by its local character, meaning you will not be dealing with the monotony of a high-speed highway grind. The route features a 0% highway share, placing the focus squarely on navigating local roads as you make your way toward Winston-Salem. You should remain attentive behind the wheel, as the winding nature of these roads requires constant focus compared to a straight-line expressway. This is a straightforward, functional drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.7 mi on I 285.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 285 and Old US Hwy 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 15.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 285; US 52; NC 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 21m. Total distance: 15.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.7 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 285; US 52; NC 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Winston-Salem, NC
More trips to Winston-Salem, NC
Explore more options from Welcome, NC or browse trips ending in Winston-Salem, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.