Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Greensboro, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
29.3 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, you are looking at a very manageable 29.3-mile trip. Expect to spend about 37 minutes on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost of just $5, it is an economical route that connects two major hubs within the Southeast region. Since the entire drive takes place within North Carolina, you will stay within the same regional atmosphere throughout the journey. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or weave in your own errands along the way. It is a straightforward, practical link between these two cities that keeps travel time to a minimum.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Parkway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| I 40 | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| Freeman Mill Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Edgeworth Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Salem Parkway
— 18.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Greensboro, 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
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421; NC 150
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 218B
Toward Freeman Mill Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto Freeman Mill Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Freeman Mill Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn straight onto Freeman Mill Road
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Freeman Mill Road
9
Continue on South Edgeworth Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Edgeworth Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Market Street
Use the right lane.
11
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 29.1 — 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
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
25.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Freeman Mill Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 218B
Toward Freeman Mill Road
7
29.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.42 | $10.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.47 | $12.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Greensboro, NC
Late night in Greensboro on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
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
16 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
37m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via the Salem Parkway, I-40, and Freeman Mill Road to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your journey is an 18.4-mile stretch along the Salem Parkway, which serves as the primary artery for the first leg of the trip. Because this route relies heavily on major highways, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a slow, winding scenic tour. It is a functional commute that prioritizes efficiency, allowing you to transition between the two cities with minimal deviation from the main interstate corridors.
86% 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: 18.4 mi on Salem Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Salem Parkway and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 29.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Greensboro, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
Martinsville
19.1 mi in
|
~23m
|
via I 40
About the Cities
Starting in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Greensboro, NC
Full guide →Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
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 37m. Total distance: 29.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.4 miles on Salem Parkway. 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 Greensboro, 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 3.1 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Greensboro, 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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