Traveling from the coast to the Piedmont region, this 221.6-mile trip links Wrightsville Beach to Winston-Salem in approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes. Because the route is relatively straightforward, it functions perfectly as a single-day journey, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $35 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire trip. Navigating through the Southeast, you will transition from the immediate coastal environment into the heart of North Carolina. It is a practical drive that allows you to move between two distinct areas of the state without the stress of an exhausting multi-day trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.2 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
107.3 mi
1h 55m
I 40
106.4 mi
2h 3m
Salem Parkway
13.4 mi
16m
Eastwood Road
3.5 mi
6m
North College Road
1.1 mi
1m
Causeway Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wrightsville Beach, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 76
1.1 mi·2 min·Causeway Drive
2
Continue on US 74; US 76
0.2 mi·30 sec·Wrightsville Avenue
3
Continue on US 74; US 76
3.5 mi·6 min·Eastwood Road
4
Continue on US 74
0.7 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
5
Turn right onto US 117; NC 132
1.1 mi·1 min·North College Road
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·Michael Jordan Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
86 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.7 mi·9 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
13 mi·15 min·I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421
13 mi·16 min·Salem Parkway
Exit 206Toward US 421 North: KernersvilleUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 233AToward Main StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue, especially given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads. Keep your $35 fuel budget in mind and consider topping off your tank before departing Wrightsville Beach to ensure a smooth transition between local roads. Because you are navigating local streets rather than major interstates, pay close attention to your navigation system to avoid missing turns along the way. Planning for a single, well-timed break will help you stay fresh and focused as you make your way toward Winston-Salem.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.2 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wrightsville Beach, 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 Wrightsville Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 234.3 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Michael Jordan Highway for about 107.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 233.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.5 mi into trip|~10m in|US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Turn right onto US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
113.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
200 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
220.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|US 421 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 206
Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
7
233.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.64 one way
$73.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$40.06
$80.12
premium
$4.70
$43.36
$86.73
diesel
$5.61
$51.73
$103.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.3
0
$24.60
$11.25
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.50
$9.37
EV Truck/SUV
93.7
1
$32.80
$15.00
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Late night
in Wrightsville Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night
in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
14 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 24.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. Your journey begins on local thoroughfares like Wrightsville Avenue, Eastwood Road, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, which demand your full attention behind the wheel. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Wrightsville Avenue, you should prepare for frequent turns and constant adjustments rather than long, straight highway miles. This personality makes for a more engaged driving experience that requires you to stay alert through the various segments of the trip. The road feels intimate and local, keeping you involved with the immediate surroundings throughout the entire 221.6-mile duration.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 mi on Michael Jordan Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 117; NC 132 / North College Road.
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 234.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 5.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 200 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 234.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on Michael Jordan Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Winston-Salem, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 200 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Moores Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Winston-Salem, NC, but most travelers stay overnight.
