Winston-Salem to Carthage is 82.2 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 74, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It’s a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without much fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making it a predictable and efficient journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
49.5 mi
56m
West Main Street
13.9 mi
20m
Plank Road
6.2 mi
8m
NC 24
5.3 mi
8m
John Gold Memorial Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
I 40
2.2 mi
2m
Little River Road
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 49.5 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,678 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,194
Quietest
1 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 31 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Carthage, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.5 mi·59 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
3
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.3 mi·21 sec·Salem Parkway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 232CToward US 52 South: LexingtonUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
2.2 mi·3 min·John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 107AToward I 40 East: GreensboroUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40
2.2 mi·2 min·I 40
8
Take the exit onto I 74
49 mi·56 min·I 74
Exit 196Toward I 74 East: High PointUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
10
Turn left onto NC 705
0.6 mi·1 min·Little River Road
11
Continue on NC 705
14 mi·20 min·West Main Street
12
Turn slight left onto Old Plank Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Old Plank Road
13
Continue on Plank Road
6.2 mi·8 min·Plank Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto NC 24; NC 27
5.3 mi·8 min·NC 24; NC 27
15
Enter roundabout onto NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
0.1 mi·7 sec·Courthouse Square
16
Arrive at destination
NC 22; NC 24; NC 27
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under two hours, this trip offers great flexibility; leaving Winston-Salem anytime in the morning or afternoon works well. Since the longest stretch is under 50 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive stretches without services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 74 to local roads like Plank Road, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests this is an economical trip, so you can focus on enjoying the direct journey.
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 41.1 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 48m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Winston-Salem, NC
This is one driving day of about 82.2 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 74 for about 49.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 5.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
8
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward US 52 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 232C
Toward US 52 South: Lexington
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge onto US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: Greensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro
7
5.9 mi into trip|~8m in|I 74
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 East: High Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 196
Toward I 74 East: High Point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.14 one way
$24.27 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$13.34
$26.67
premium
$4.49
$14.54
$29.07
diesel
$4.80
$15.52
$31.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.95
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.19
$3.29
EV Truck/SUV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Jul 11, 2026
Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 11 at 3:59PM EDT until July 11 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 11 at 3:44PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Destination
Carthage, NC
Morning
in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 11 at 3:59PM EDT until July 11 at 4:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 11 at 3:44PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
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
5 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
1h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 72% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 49.5 miles on I 74, offering uninterrupted travel at highway speeds. While the majority of the journey is on main roads like I 74 and West Main Street, Plank Road will also play a role, introducing a different road surface and potentially lower speeds as you approach your destination. Expect a relatively smooth and direct driving experience for most of the 82.2 miles.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.5 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and West Main Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 82.2 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 (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.5 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Carthage, 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): 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 Carthage, NC before heading back.
