Origin
Fairplains, NC
Afternoon in Fairplains on Friday
Local time
4:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairplains, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
56.6 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairplains, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairplains, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 421 Business, Statesville Road, Sparta Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.2 miles on US 421 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.85 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 56.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 421 Business and Statesville Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.2 miles on US 421 Business.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 421 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 50.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 421 Business and Statesville Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 421 Business.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fairplains, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 1h 10m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 421 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 miles (Cherry Street South): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 421 Business
Take the ramp onto US 421 Business toward US 421 South: Winston-Salem
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 421 South: Winston-Salem
8
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m 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
5
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Cherry Street South
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
Navigation decision point
7
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 421 Business | 50.2 mi | 58m |
| Statesville Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Sparta Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| 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:
US 421 Business
— 50.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairplains, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on NC 18
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sparta Road
2
Continue on NC 18
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
3
Turn left onto US 421 Business; NC 115
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Statesville Road
4
Take the ramp onto US 421 Business
50 mi
·
58 min
·
US 421 Business
Toward US 421 South: Winston-Salem
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
7
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
8
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.3 mi from Fairplains, NC · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Fairplains, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.48 | $20.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Friday
Local time
4:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 to 7 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
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
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 8:14PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
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
4 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
1h 10m 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 Fairplains, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 421 Business, Statesville Road, Sparta 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 28.3 miles from Fairplains, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.85 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.
The drive from Fairplains, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 1h 10m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (US 421 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.9 miles (Cherry Street South): Navigation decision point.
The route from Fairplains, 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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