Origin
Bent Creek, NC
Afternoon in Bent Creek on Monday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bent Creek, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Drive Time
2h 58m
Distance
151.4 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 47m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bent Creek, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Bent Creek, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 151.4 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Salem Parkway, Brevard Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.23 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
75.7 miles from Bent Creek, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 58m highway drive covering 151.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Salem Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.8 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 14 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 140.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salem Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
145.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
8
150.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m 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
150.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
151.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m 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 | 140.8 mi | 2h 40m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Brevard Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Bent Creek Ranch Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.8 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bent Creek, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Sarge Lane
198 ft
·
10 sec
·
Sarge Lane
2
Turn left onto Bent Creek Ranch Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Bent Creek Ranch Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Bent Creek Ranch Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bent Creek Ranch Road
4
Turn left onto NC 191
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Brevard Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
141 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
8
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
11
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
12
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
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 75.7 miles from Bent Creek, NC, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.8 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 miles or 1h 30m 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 25m
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 Bent Creek, 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 Bent Creek, NC
This is one driving day of about 151.4 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bent Creek, 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 140.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.7 mi from Bent Creek, NC · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.7 miles from Bent Creek, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.8 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.23 one way
$48.46 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $26.40 | $52.80 |
| premium | $4.78 | $28.48 | $56.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.64 | $67.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.90 | $7.27 |
| Efficient EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.25 | $6.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.20 | $9.69 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Monday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 7 to 14 mph
8% chance
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
27 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 58m 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 Bent Creek, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 151.4 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Salem Parkway, Brevard Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.7 miles from Bent Creek, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.23 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 is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bent Creek, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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