Traveling from Winston-Salem to Boiling Springs covers 116.7 miles, typically requiring about 2 hours and 28 minutes of drive time. Because this is a relatively short trek across North Carolina, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating your way requires following a series of local roads, including West 1st Street, Marshall Street South, and US 158 West. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the entire journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.4 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
66.6 mi
1h 15m
NC 18
15.1 mi
22m
Old Shelby Road
12.6 mi
19m
Shelby Bypass
8.7 mi
9m
Salem Parkway
4.5 mi
6m
NC 10
3.3 mi
4m
McBrayer Homestead Road
2.4 mi
4m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 66.6 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Boiling Springs, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.4 mi·41 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
302 ft·5 sec·Marshall Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 WestUse the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
4.5 mi·6 min·Salem Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 238Toward I 40: Greensboro, StatesvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward I 40 West: Statesville
8
Merge onto I 40
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 121Toward Longview
10
Turn right onto 33rd Street Southwest
163 ft·3 sec·33rd Street Southwest
11
Continue on Old Shelby Road
13 mi·19 min·Old Shelby Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto NC 10
3.3 mi·4 min·NC 10
13
Continue on NC 18
15 mi·22 min·NC 18
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Asheville
15
Merge onto SR 9000
8.7 mi·9 min·Shelby Bypass
Toward US 74
16
Continue on US 74
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Dixon Boulevard
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto McBrayer Homestead Road
2.4 mi·4 min·McBrayer Homestead Road
19
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 116.7-mile drive, it is best to plan your departure for daylight hours when visibility is highest. You won't need to worry about scheduling formal stops, as the entire trip can be completed in under two and a half hours, though you should keep your $18 fuel budget in mind before you head out. Since the route relies entirely on local roads like US 158 West, stay alert for frequent intersections and turning points. My best advice is to familiarize yourself with the specific sequence of local streets beforehand, as the lack of long highway stretches makes navigation a constant process rather than a set-it-and-forget-it 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 58.4 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.6 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.4 miles or 1h 7m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boiling Springs, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC
This is one driving day of about 116.7 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Winston-Salem, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 66.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 113.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|West 1st Street
Turn right onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Marshall Street South
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
Navigation decision point
7
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
8
5.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 238
Toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville
6
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.25 one way
$36.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.95
$39.91
premium
$4.70
$21.60
$43.20
diesel
$5.61
$25.77
$51.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.25
$5.60
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
EV Truck/SUV
46.7
0
$16.34
$7.47
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 14, 2026
Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boiling Springs, NC
Late night
in Boiling Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
32 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route contains 0% highway travel. You will spend your time navigating local surface streets, meaning there are no long, monotonous stretches of high-speed pavement; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West 1st Street. The road profile demands your full attention due to the constant changes in direction. This experience is best suited for drivers who prefer a hands-on, localized route over the predictability of a major highway system. Prepare for a steady pace as you wind your way through the local terrain.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near West 1st Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 116.7 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 0.4 miles (West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Marshall Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Winston-Salem, NC and Boiling Springs, NC, road signs point toward Longview and Asheville.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 116.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.6 miles on I 40. 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 Boiling Springs, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Marshall Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: 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 Boiling Springs, NC before heading back.
