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Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Conover, NC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

63.2 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

city in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States of America

Conover, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Winston-Salem, NC to Conover, NC is 63.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via I 40 and Salem Parkway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Primarily a highway-focused drive, it's a straightforward journey ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a convenient option for a quick relocation or a visit to a nearby town.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 54.3 mi 1h 1m
Salem Parkway 4.5 mi 6m
Rock Barn Road Northeast 1.1 mi 1m
Rockbarn Road 0.5 mi <1m
1st Street East 0.5 mi <1m
7th Avenue Northeast 0.5 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
West 1st Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 54.3 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Conover, 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 West Use 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 238 Toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville Use 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

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec
Exit 133 Toward Rock Barn Road
10

Turn left onto Rockbarn Road

498 ft · 9 sec · Rockbarn Road
11

Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast

1.1 mi · 1 min · Rock Barn Road Northeast
12

Continue on Rockbarn Road

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Rockbarn Road
13

Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast

0.5 mi · 47 sec · 7th Avenue Northeast
14

Turn right onto 1st Street East

0.5 mi · 52 sec · 1st Street East
15

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Where to Stop

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

town in Davie County, North Carolina, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mocksville, NC

32 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

Advance, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mocksville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Winston-Salem, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 5.3 — 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
5
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway

Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.88 one way

$19.77 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.81 $21.61
premium $4.70 $11.70 $23.39
diesel $5.61 $13.95 $27.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19 0 $6.64 $3.03
Efficient EV 15.8 0 $5.53 $2.53
EV Truck/SUV 25.3 0 $8.85 $4.04

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 19, 2026

Origin

Winston-Salem, NC

Late night in Winston-Salem on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Conover, NC

Late night in Conover on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

56°F

Mocksville, NC

32 mi in

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

24 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 14m 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?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 40 and Salem Parkway. Expect a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment spanning 54.3 miles on I 40. The character of the drive is largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over varied scenery. You'll experience the predictability of interstate conditions for the bulk of the trip, with a brief transition onto Rock Barn Road Northeast as you approach your destination.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.3 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salem Parkway. 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 Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.2 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 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.

On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Conover, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.

Statesville

5.3 mi in | ~7m

About the Cities

Starting 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 1h 14m. Total distance: 63.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.3 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 Conover, 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 0.4 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 Conover, 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.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Conover, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Plan the drive back the other way.

64 mi 1h 14m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.