Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Southmont, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.1-mile drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Southmont, NC takes about 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll spend about 70% of your time on highways, with a significant 21.5-mile stretch on the John Gold Memorial Expressway. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $5, and with no designated stops, you have the flexibility to go directly or add your own detours. This route stays within the Southeast region and North Carolina, offering a quick and convenient journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Linwood-Southmont Road | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| I 285 | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| Old Linwood Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hargrave Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hargrave Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Southmont, 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 232C
Toward US 52 South: Lexington
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
22 mi
·
24 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 84
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto Hargrave Lane
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Hargrave Lane
9
Turn right onto NC 47
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hargrave Road
10
Continue on NC 47
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Linwood Road
11
Continue on NC 47
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Linwood-Southmont Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
13
Turn left onto West Holloway Church Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Holloway Church Road
14
Turn left onto NC 8
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 8
15
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 25.5 — 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.
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 84
5
25.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Hargrave Lane
Turn left onto Hargrave Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.50 | $12.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Southmont, NC
Afternoon in Southmont on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Lexington, NC
18 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
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
46m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with about 70% of the 35.1 miles being on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.5 miles on the John Gold Memorial Expressway, allowing for consistent progress. The roads transition from the John Gold Memorial Expressway to Linwood-Southmont Road and I-285, suggesting a mix of expressway and interstate driving. This profile means you'll likely experience efficient travel with fewer interruptions.
70% 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: 21.5 mi on John Gold Memorial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and Linwood-Southmont Road. 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 11 decision points packed into just 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
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.
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 46m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway. 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 Southmont, 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 0.9 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 Southmont, 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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