Spanning 201.5 miles across North Carolina, this trip from Windsor to High Point typically takes 3 hours and 57 minutes to complete. Because the duration is manageable for a single day of travel, you can easily handle this journey in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $32 for fuel to cover the distance between these two southeastern locations. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, including US 13, I-85, and the US 64 Bypass, keeping your transit time efficient. Whether you are heading to High Point for business or a visit, this straightforward highway-focused drive offers a reliable way to cross the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.7 miles from Windsor, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 13
70.7 mi
1h 20m
I 85
42.3 mi
48m
US 64 Bypass
27.8 mi
29m
Northern Wake Expressway
15.4 mi
16m
US 29
12.5 mi
13m
South Miami Boulevard
9.3 mi
12m
I 40
7.7 mi
9m
Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 13
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on East Granville Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Granville Street
2
Continue on US 13 BUS; NC 308
0.8 mi·1 min·US 13 BUS; NC 308
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
0.3 mi·25 sec·US 17; US 13 BUS; NC 308 TRK
4
Turn left onto US 13; US 17
14 mi·19 min·US 13; US 17
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 13; US 64
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 13; US 64
6
Continue on US 64 Bypass
28 mi·29 min·US 64 Bypass
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
8
Keep slight right at fork
309 ft·7 sec
Exit 14Toward Rolesville Road
9
Turn right onto Rolesville Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Rolesville Road
10
Turn sharp left onto Marks Creek Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Marks Creek Road
11
Turn right onto Horton Road
0.4 mi·43 sec·Horton Road
12
Turn right onto Buffaloe Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Buffaloe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·23 sec
14
Merge onto I 540
15 mi·16 min·Northern Wake Expressway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 70 West: DurhamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Glenwood Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·New Raleigh Highway
18
Continue on US 70
9.3 mi·12 min·South Miami Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85; US 70
42 mi·48 min·I 85; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.4 mi·5 min·US 29
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: CharlotteUse the left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29
7.1 mi·7 min·US 29
Toward US 29 SouthUse the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward South Main Street, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one well-timed stop to break up the nearly four-hour duration. Since you are navigating significant stretches of highway, checking your fuel levels before merging onto I-85 is a smart move to ensure you don't overpay for gas in high-traffic areas. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential congestion, especially as you approach the more developed areas near your destination. Use the flexibility of this one-day trip to your advantage by pacing your rest break around the 70-mile mark on US 13. Keeping a steady pace will make the 201.5-mile journey feel much more manageable.
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 100.7 miles from Windsor, NC, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.7 miles or 1h 54m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near High Point, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Windsor, 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 Windsor, NC
This is one driving day of about 201.5 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Windsor, 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 US 13 for about 70.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 100 and 199.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
100 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Rolesville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 14
Toward Rolesville Road
6
122.9 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 70 West: Durham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 70 West: Durham
8
187.1 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70 West: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 Business South, US 29 South, US 70...
7
192.5 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|US 29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 29 toward US 29 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 29 South
7
199.6 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Downtown
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 South Main Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.51 one way
$63.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$34.45
$68.91
premium
$4.70
$37.29
$74.59
diesel
$5.61
$44.49
$88.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.16
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.21
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Windsor, NC
Late night
in Windsor on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
High Point, NC
Late night
in High Point on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
3h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by high-speed transit, as 88% of this route takes place on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on major roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch lasting 70.7 miles along US 13. While the path avoids overly technical local roads in favor of efficiency, the transition between US 13 and the interstate system defines the feel of the trip. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent, highway-focused experience that prioritizes steady progress over winding backroads. It is a functional, no-nonsense route designed to get you from the eastern part of the state to the central region as directly as possible.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on US 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 13 and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 201.5 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 100 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 122.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 201.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on US 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 High Point, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 100 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 122.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.1 miles (US 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at High Point, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
