This straightforward 111.7-mile drive from Winston-Salem to White Plains, North Carolina, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes to complete. With 91% of the journey on highways, including stretches of I-85 and the John Gold Memorial Expressway, expect a fairly direct trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $17, making it an economical option for a quick excursion. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks. This route is ideal for those seeking an efficient way to travel within the Southeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.9 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 85
76.7 mi
1h 28m
John Gold Memorial Expressway
21.5 mi
24m
Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
6.1 mi
7m
I 285
3.7 mi
3m
Shelby Road
1.1 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
El Bethel Road
0.3 mi
1m
Salem Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and White Plains, 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
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
3.7 mi·3 min·I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
7
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi·4 min·I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 85; US 52
73 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·50 sec
Exit 10BToward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, ShelbyUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 74
6.1 mi·7 min·Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 74 Business: Moss Lake, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Stony Point Road
469 ft·8 sec·Stony Point Road
13
Continue on US 74 BUS
1.1 mi·1 min·Shelby Road
14
Turn right onto El Bethel Road
0.3 mi·1 min·El Bethel Road
15
Turn right onto Yarbro Road
103 ft·4 sec·Yarbro Road
16
Arrive at destination
Yarbro Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 11 minutes for this 111.7-mile trip, you can easily complete it in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for spontaneous detours if desired. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's a budget-friendly journey, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 76.7 miles on I-85, where refueling opportunities might be less frequent. Plan your stops strategically before you head out, especially since no specific rest areas are noted on this route.
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 55.9 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.9 miles or 1h 4m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near White Plains, 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 111.7 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 85 for about 76.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 109.8 — 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
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.
8
103.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10B
Toward US 74 West: Kings Mountain, Shelby
7
109.8 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 74 Business: Moss Lake, Waco
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.
Toward US 74 Business: Moss Lake, Waco
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.47 one way
$34.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.10
$38.20
premium
$4.70
$20.67
$41.35
diesel
$5.61
$24.66
$49.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Late night
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
White Plains, NC
Late night
in White Plains on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
10 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 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 91% of this 111.7-mile route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-85, including a continuous stretch of 76.7 miles. This means the majority of your travel will be on high-speed, multi-lane roads, facilitated by the John Gold Memorial Expressway and Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway. While primarily an interstate experience, the consistent highway profile ensures a predictable pace and minimal slowdowns as you progress towards White Plains.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and John Gold Memorial Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 111.7 miles you will encounter 10 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.
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 White Plains, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Shelby along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on I 85. 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 White Plains, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 White Plains, NC before heading back.
