Origin
Elizabeth City, NC
Evening in Elizabeth City on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth City, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
101 mi
162 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth City, NC
Michael Ken
Trip Overview
Spanning 101 miles, this trek from Elizabeth City to Winston-Salem typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travel. Because you remain within the Southeast throughout the drive, the transition between these two North Carolina locations feels cohesive. Whether you are heading west for business or a change of scenery, the route is efficient and keeps your total time on the road manageable.
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
50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 64% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-40, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 54.6 miles. Beyond the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you navigate segments of Startown Road and Cherryville Road. This transition from high-speed travel to local corridors requires you to remain attentive to changing speed limits and traffic patterns. Overall, the drive offers a functional mix of fast-paced transit and more localized driving conditions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 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 54.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Startown Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near NC 150 / Cherryville Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 101 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (NC 150 / Cherryville Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.3 miles (Cherry Street South): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NC 150 / Cherryville Road
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 150 / Cherryville Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
100.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m 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
100.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
Cherry Street South
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
100.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
100.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m 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 | 54.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| Startown Road | 8.7 mi | 11m |
| Cherryville Road | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Lincolnton Highway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| US 321 Business | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| West Church Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| State Road 1407 | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth City, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Crystal Lane
424 ft
·
23 sec
·
Crystal Lane
2
Turn left onto NC 180
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Post Road
3
Enter roundabout onto NC 150
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cherryville Road
4
Continue on NC 150
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Cherryville Road
5
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 150
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Cherryville Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on NC 150
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Shelby Highway
7
Continue on NC 150
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Church Street
8
Continue on NC 150
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lincolnton Highway
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on SR 1407
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Road 1407
10
Turn slight right
300 ft
·
7 sec
11
Turn straight onto NC 27
201 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Main Street
12
Continue on NC 27
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Drive
13
Turn left onto North Grove Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Grove Street
14
Continue on Reepsville Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Reepsville Road
15
Turn right onto Startown Road
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Startown Road
16
Turn right onto West Maiden Road
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Maiden Road
17
Turn left onto Sigmon Dairy Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sigmon Dairy Road
18
Continue on Rome Jones Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Rome Jones Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 321 Business
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
US 321 Business
20
Turn right onto US 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Conover Boulevard West
21
Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Northeast
22
Continue on Rockbarn Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Rockbarn Road
23
Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Rock Barn Road Northeast
24
Turn right
340 ft
·
9 sec
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
26
Merge onto I 40
55 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
28
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the none lane.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
30
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
31
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
Use the none lane.
32
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
34
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 14-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this 101-mile route, consider fueling up before you head out to maximize your $16 budget and avoid unnecessary detours. Because the majority of your time is spent on I-40, keep a close watch on signage as you merge onto the secondary roads like Startown and Cherryville toward the end of your trip. Staying alert during these transitions is key to a smooth arrival in Winston-Salem. Since this is a short trip, feel free to adjust your pace to suit your personal schedule.
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 50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, NC, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 15m 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 51m
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 Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth City, 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 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.5 mi from Elizabeth City, NC · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, 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
$16.16 one way
$32.33 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| premium | $4.78 | $19.00 | $38.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.44 | $44.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.85 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.84 | $4.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.14 | $6.46 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Evening in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
7:51 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
26 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 14m 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 Elizabeth City, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Startown Road, Cherryville 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 50.5 miles from Elizabeth City, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.16 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 101 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (NC 150 / Cherryville Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.3 miles (Cherry Street South): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Elizabeth City, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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