Winston-Salem to Pinebluff is 100 miles and takes about 2h 4m via I 74 and NC 211, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Carolina, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. It's a straightforward trip, largely on highways, making it a good option if you're looking for an easy, one-day excursion. You'll find it's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without many complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
66.8 mi
1h 15m
NC 211
17.1 mi
25m
Beulah Hill Road North
6.8 mi
11m
South Sandhills Boulevard
3 mi
3m
John Gold Memorial Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
I 40
2.2 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Salem Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 15m
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 Pinebluff, 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
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 74
Exit 196Toward I 74 East: High PointUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
10
Turn left onto NC 211
17 mi·25 min·NC 211
11
Turn right onto NC 5
6.8 mi·11 min·Beulah Hill Road North
12
Turn right onto US 1; US 15; US 501; NC 211
3.0 mi·3 min·South Sandhills Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
US 1
Trip Plan
Given this is a 100-mile drive taking just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Winston-Salem in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to reach Pinebluff well before evening. Since there are no specific stops noted, you can decide on the fly if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $17 estimated cost is based on the total mileage. The longest stretch on I 74 is nearly 67 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too far into that segment.
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 50 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 58m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinebluff, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Winston-Salem, NC
This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 66.8 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
$15.91 one way
$31.81 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$17.34
$34.69
premium
$4.78
$18.81
$37.63
diesel
$5.35
$21.06
$42.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon
in Winston-Salem on Wednesday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 1:34PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 10:57AM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Pinebluff, NC
Afternoon
in Pinebluff on Wednesday
Local time
4:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
SE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 1:34PM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 31 at 10:57AM EDT until May 31 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington 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
1 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
2h 4m 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 mostly highway, with 89% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll spend the longest stretch, 66.8 miles, on I 74 before transitioning to NC 211 and Beulah Hill Road North. Expect a significant portion of your travel to be on interstate, so be prepared for merging traffic and a consistent speed limit. The final section will shift to more typical surface roads after the main highway portion concludes.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and NC 211. 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 Effort5/10
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 100 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 2h 4m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 Pinebluff, NC before heading back.
