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Trip from Advance, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

26m

Distance

18.6 mi

30 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Advance, NC, NC

Advance, NC

Nicolas Foster

Trip Overview

The drive from Advance, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 18.6 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, NC 801, Salem Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.2 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

9.3 miles from Advance, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 26m highway drive covering 18.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and NC 801. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.2 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 801. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NC 801.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (NC 801): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | NC 801

Turn right onto NC 801

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem

Navigation decision point

Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
8
17.7 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street

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 233B Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
7
18.1 mi into trip | ~25m in | West 2nd Street

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
18.3 mi into trip | ~26m in | North Main Street

Turn left onto North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 7.2 mi 8m
NC 801 4.9 mi 8m
Salem Parkway 4.7 mi 6m
North Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Cherry Street South 0.2 mi <1m
West 2nd Street 0.2 mi <1m
High Street Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
Peoples Creek Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 7.2 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Advance, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.

1

Start on Peoples Creek Road

150 ft · 6 sec · Peoples Creek Road
2

Turn right onto NC 801

4.9 mi · 8 min · NC 801
Use the straight lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
4

Merge onto I 40

7.2 mi · 8 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 36 sec
Exit 188 Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
6

Merge onto US 421

4.7 mi · 6 min · Salem Parkway
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 233B Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on High Street Southwest

459 ft · 15 sec · High Street Southwest
9

Turn left onto Cherry Street South

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Cherry Street South
10

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

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 9.3 miles from Advance, NC, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.2 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 18.6 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 9.3 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 22m

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 Advance, 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 Advance, NC

This is one driving day of about 18.6 miles and 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Advance, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 7.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.3 mi from Advance, NC · 14m into the drive

city in Stokes and Forsyth counties, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

King, NC

9 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.

Popular next leg

King, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

16 mi · 22m

Pacing Suggestions

King, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

King, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.3 miles from Advance, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC

The final approach into Winston-Salem, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Winston-Salem, NC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.91 one way

$5.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $3.18 $6.36
premium $4.70 $3.44 $6.88
diesel $5.61 $4.11 $8.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.6 0 $1.95 $0.89
Efficient EV 4.7 0 $1.63 $0.74
EV Truck/SUV 7.4 0 $2.60 $1.19

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Advance, NC

Evening in Advance on Tuesday

Local time

5:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Evening in Winston-Salem on Tuesday

Local time

5:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°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

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

26m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Advance, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 18.6 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, NC 801, Salem Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.3 miles from Advance, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NC 801): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Advance, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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