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Trip from Goldsboro, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 9m

Distance

156.6 mi

252 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 58m ★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m

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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city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States

Goldsboro, NC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Goldsboro, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 156.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, US 70, Salem Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.49 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

78.3 miles from Goldsboro, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 3h 9m highway drive covering 156.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and US 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.4 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 17 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 102.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 156.6 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 0.2 miles (US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (US 70 Business / Grantham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 122.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street

Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 70 Business / Grantham Street

Turn left onto US 70 Business / Grantham Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
122.3 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
142.6 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in | US 421 / Salem Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421 / Salem Parkway toward US 421 North: Kernersville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Exit 206 Toward US 421 North: Kernersville
7
155.9 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in

Take the exit toward Main Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 233A Toward Main Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 102.4 mi 1h 59m
US 70 17.4 mi 24m
Salem Parkway 13.4 mi 16m
US 70 BYP 10.1 mi 12m
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway 10 mi 11m
Grantham Street 1.8 mi 2m
North George Street 0.5 mi <1m
South Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 102.4 mi, about 1h 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 70 Business; US 117 Business

0.2 mi · 44 sec · East Ash Street
2

Enter roundabout onto US 70 Business; US 117 Business

169 ft · 8 sec · West Ash Street
3

Continue on US 70 Business; US 117 Business

0.2 mi · 45 sec · West Ash Street
4

Turn right onto US 70 Business

0.5 mi · 49 sec · North George Street
5

Turn left onto US 70 Business

1.8 mi · 2 min · Grantham Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on US 70

5.1 mi · 7 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on US 70

10 mi · 14 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on US 70

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 70
Use the straight lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP

10 mi · 12 min · US 70 BYP
10

Continue on I 42

10.0 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
11

Merge onto I 40

82 mi · 1 hr 34 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220

13 mi · 15 min · I 40; US 220
Use the straight lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 421

13 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway
Exit 206 Toward US 421 North: Kernersville Use the straight lane.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 233A Toward Main Street Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.3 miles from Goldsboro, NC, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.3 miles or 1h 37m 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 35m

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 Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro, NC

This is one driving day of about 156.6 miles and 3h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Goldsboro, 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 102.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 78.3 mi from Goldsboro, NC · 1h 37m into the drive

town in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Carrboro, NC

78 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

Carrboro, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Carrboro, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.3 miles from Goldsboro, 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 102.4 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

$24.49 one way

$48.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $26.78 $53.55
premium $4.70 $28.98 $57.97
diesel $5.61 $34.58 $69.15

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: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47 0 $16.44 $7.52
Efficient EV 39.2 0 $13.70 $6.26
EV Truck/SUV 62.6 0 $21.92 $10.02

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Goldsboro, NC

Morning in Goldsboro on Wednesday

Local time

6:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Clear

SW 7 mph 4% 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

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Morning in Winston-Salem on Wednesday

Local time

6:30 AM

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

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

3 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 9m 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 Goldsboro, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 156.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 70, 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 78.3 miles from Goldsboro, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 156.6 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 0.2 miles (US 70 Business; US 117 Business / West Ash Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (US 70 Business / Grantham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 122.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Goldsboro, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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