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Trip from Asheville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

145.1 mi

233 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Trip Overview

The drive from Asheville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 145.1 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Billy Graham Freeway, Salem Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 134 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.69 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

72.5 miles from Asheville, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 145.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 48m highway drive covering 145.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Billy Graham Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 134 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 15 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 134 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Billy Graham Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Marcellus Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 145.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Marcellus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 144.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Marcellus Street

Turn left onto Marcellus Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
144.2 mi into trip | ~2h 46m 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
144.7 mi into trip | ~2h 47m in | West 2nd Street

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
144.8 mi into trip | ~2h 48m in | North Main Street

Turn left onto North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 134 mi 2h 32m
Billy Graham Freeway 4.8 mi 6m
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
Merrimon Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
High Street Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 134 mi, about 2h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

45 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Marcellus Street

130 ft · 8 sec · Marcellus Street
3

Turn right onto US 25

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Merrimon Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 240; US 70; US 74A

3.7 mi · 5 min · Billy Graham Freeway
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 240

1.1 mi · 1 min · Billy Graham Freeway
7

Merge onto I 40

134 mi · 2 hr 32 min · I 40
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 36 sec
Exit 188 Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
9

Merge onto US 421

4.7 mi · 6 min · Salem Parkway
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 233B Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on High Street Southwest

459 ft · 15 sec · High Street Southwest
12

Turn left onto Cherry Street South

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Cherry Street South
13

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.5 miles from Asheville, NC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134 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 32 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.5 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 17m

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 Asheville, 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 Asheville, NC

This is one driving day of about 145.1 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Asheville, 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 I 40 for about 134 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.5 mi from Asheville, NC · 1h 24m into the drive

Downtown Salem, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Salem, NC

73 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

Salem, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

91.7 mi · 1h 47m

Pacing Suggestions

Black Mountain, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Salem, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.5 miles from Asheville, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 145.1

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Asheville, North Carolina

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

West End Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 145.1

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13367234774

Visit website

The Rise Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18282200368

Visit website

Taproot Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 72.5

Hickory, North Carolina

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18064078348

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Asheville Pinball Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 2–9 pm

+18287765671

Visit website

Asheville Free Walking Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18284190295

Visit website

Western North Carolina Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Asheville, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+18282598080

Visit website

Safari Nation Winston-Salem

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 145.1

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+13365233355

Visit website

Adventure Landing Winston-Salem

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 145.1

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13367684730

Visit website

Alex Cooper Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 103.6

Statesville, North Carolina

+17048783429

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.69 one way

$45.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.81 $49.62
premium $4.70 $26.85 $53.71
diesel $5.61 $32.04 $64.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.5 0 $15.24 $6.96
Efficient EV 36.3 0 $12.70 $5.80
EV Truck/SUV 58 0 $20.31 $9.29

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Asheville, NC

Late night in Asheville on Saturday

Local time

3:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Late night in Winston-Salem on Saturday

Local time

3:46 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Partly Cloudy

SW 2 to 6 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 12:06AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 13 at 8:41PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

54°F

Salem, NC

73 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

9 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 48m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Asheville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 145.1 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Billy Graham Freeway, 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 72.5 miles from Asheville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.69 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 145.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Marcellus Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 144.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Asheville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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