Traveling from Winston-Salem to Jefferson covers 86.1 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a steady pace that fits perfectly into a single day. Budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the trip within the Southeast region. Whether you are heading out for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, this route is straightforward enough to manage without an overnight split. You will spend the entire journey within North Carolina, transitioning from the heart of the Piedmont toward the higher elevations of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Salem Parkway
55.4 mi
1h 5m
NC 16
25.8 mi
37m
Watson Brame Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
US 221
0.9 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West 1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
J W Luke Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Salem Parkway
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Jefferson, 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
55 mi·1 hr 5 min·Salem Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 421; NC 16
2.2 mi·3 min·Watson Brame Expressway
7
Turn right onto NC 16
19 mi·27 min·NC 16
8
Turn left onto Trading Post Road
217 ft·3 sec·Trading Post Road
9
Continue on J W Luke Road
0.2 mi·17 sec·J W Luke Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto NC 16
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 16
11
At end of road, turn left onto NC 16; NC 88
3.1 mi·4 min·NC 16; NC 88
12
Continue on US 221; NC 88
0.9 mi·2 min·US 221; NC 88
13
Continue on US 221 Business; NC 88
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 221 Business; NC 88
Trip Plan
Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule, though departing early in the morning helps you avoid potential local traffic congestion. You do not need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the sub-two-hour duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep in mind that with no highway segments, your travel time can fluctuate based on local road conditions, so factor in a little extra cushion if you have a firm arrival time. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, ensure your vehicle is well-maintained and that you are comfortable with navigating winding local roads before setting out.
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 43 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 51m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 86.1 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Winston-Salem, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Salem Parkway for about 55.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 81.2 — 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.
5
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|NC 16; NC 88
At end of road, turn left onto NC 16; NC 88
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.46 one way
$26.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.72
$29.44
premium
$4.70
$15.94
$31.87
diesel
$5.61
$19.01
$38.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.8
0
$9.04
$4.13
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.53
$3.44
EV Truck/SUV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
7:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 to 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 13 at 8:41PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 8:14PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Destination
Jefferson, NC
Morning
in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
7:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
13 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
1h 52m 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?
Expect a very different experience than a typical interstate trek, as this route consists entirely of local roads without any highway stretches. You will navigate via West 1st Street, Marshall Street South, and US 158 West, which creates a technical driving environment. Since the road profile is turn-heavy, you will need to stay alert behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. The lack of highway exposure means your speed will be dictated by local traffic and the winding nature of the roads. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you navigate through the regional landscape.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.4 mi on Salem Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Salem Parkway and NC 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near West 1st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
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.
The longest stretch is about 55.4 miles on Salem Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jefferson, NC before heading back.
