Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Kernersville, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
15m
Distance
10.6 mi
17 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kernersville, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 10.6-mile drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Kernersville, NC is easily manageable in just 15 minutes, making it an ideal addition to any day trip rather than requiring an overnight stay. With no highway driving, you'll experience a local road journey that's straightforward and efficient. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is a minimal $2, reflecting its brief distance. As both destinations are within the Southeast region and North Carolina, you're staying firmly within familiar territory for this quick trip. This route is perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Parkway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| South Cherry Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Mountain Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Salem Parkway
— 8.4 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Kernersville, 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
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 224
Toward Kernersville, South Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
144 ft
·
5 sec
7
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto South Cherry Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cherry Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto West Mountain Street
338 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Mountain Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Mountain Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 9.8 — 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
5
0.7 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 / slight right lanes.
8
9.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Kernersville, South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 224
Toward Kernersville, South Main Street
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
South Cherry Street
Turn left onto South Cherry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.66 one way
$3.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.96 | $3.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.93 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Kernersville, NC
Afternoon in Kernersville on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
28 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
15m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. You'll be navigating local roads, primarily using US 158 East and Salem Parkway before entering Kernersville. The entire 10.6-mile journey is likely to feel like a continuous series of turns and local traffic, rather than long stretches of open road. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, meaning you'll be constantly engaged with the road and your surroundings as you transition from Winston-Salem to Kernersville.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on Salem Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Salem Parkway and South Cherry Street. 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
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 10.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 15m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles (US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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 15m. Total distance: 10.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.4 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 Kernersville, 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 0.7 miles (US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Kernersville, 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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