Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
96.1 mi
155 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winston-Salem, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Wingate, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Winston-Salem to Wingate is 96.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m via Warren C. Coleman Boulevard North and I-85, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, covering ground in the Southeast region. Most of this drive is on the interstate, making it a straightforward and efficient option if you need to get between these two points without much fuss. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal candidate for a same-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Warren C. Coleman Boulevard North | 29.9 mi | 37m |
| I 85 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Monroe Expressway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| US 601 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 285 | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,849 veh/hr typical · worst 4,692
Quietest
2 AM
~390 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Wingate, NC.
Start on North Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
Take the exit
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Continue on I 85; US 52
Take the exit onto US 601
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601
Turn left onto US 601; NC 73 Truck
Take the exit
Merge onto US 74 BYP
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto Austin Chaney Road
Continue on Austin Chaney Road
Continue on North Main Street
Turn right onto West Wilson Street
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour and 53-minute drive, leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of flexibility. Since it's a shorter trip, you won't need to break it up, but consider stopping for a quick break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before you get onto I-85, as your estimated fuel cost is $15. Planning to leave Winston-Salem before peak traffic hours can also make for a smoother start.
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.
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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 54m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wingate, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 96.1 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 94.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 52 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 601 toward US 29, US 601 South: Kannapolis, Concord Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 601 toward US 29 South, US 601 South: Concord Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Wingate, Austin Chaney Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$14.73 one way
$29.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $16.16 | $32.32 |
| premium | $4.64 | $17.54 | $35.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.18 | $42.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
| Efficient EV | 24 | 0 | $8.41 | $3.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.45 | $6.15 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Winston-Salem on Wednesday
Local time
10:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Wingate on Wednesday
Local time
10:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Areas Of Fog then Sunny
90°F
Concord, NC
48 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 66% of the 96.1 miles on interstates like I-85. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous surface road for 29.9 miles on Warren C. Coleman Boulevard North. Expect a good number of exits as you transition between these road types, particularly around the urban areas near Winston-Salem.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Warren C. Coleman Boulevard North and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 55.3 miles (US 601): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
381 ft
Total Descent
725 ft
Highest Point
911 ft
Elevation Range
370 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Wingate, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Concord Downtown along the way.
Concord Downtown
Founded 1766
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 96.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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