Origin
Haw River, NC
Afternoon in Haw River on Saturday
Local time
12:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Haw River, 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
1h 6m
Distance
52.5 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Haw River, NC
Kelly
Trip Overview
Haw River, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is 52.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via I 40 and Salem Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It’s a short trip, mostly on major highways, making it ideal for a quick transit or a day trip. You won't encounter significant detours or complex navigation, so consider it a simple point-to-point journey.
About the Cities
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 52.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the 52.5 miles on major roads like I 40 and Salem Parkway. Expect a relatively fast pace for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.3 miles on I 40. The character of the drive is predominantly that of efficient travel on well-maintained, high-speed roads, facilitating a quick connection between your starting and ending points.
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 20.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salem Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.5 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: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
18.2 mi into trip
|
~24m 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.
6
25.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 40; US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
38.4 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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 | 20.3 mi | 24m |
| Salem Parkway | 13.4 mi | 16m |
| Sam Hunt Freeway | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| East Harden Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Elm Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Graham Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 20.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Haw River, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on this road
98 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
177 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn left onto NC 49
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn left onto NC 49
112 ft
·
2 sec
·
Graham Road
5
Continue on NC 49
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Graham Road
6
Continue on NC 49
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Elm Street
7
Enter roundabout onto NC 49; NC 54
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Harden Street
8
Continue on NC 49; NC 54
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Harden Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto NC 49
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Maple Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 40; I 85
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Sam Hunt Freeway
Use the straight lane.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.2 mi from Haw River, NC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26.2 miles from Haw River, 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
$8.21 one way
$16.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.98 | $17.95 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.72 | $19.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.59 | $23.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
12:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
1h 6m 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 Haw River, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 52.5 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Salem Parkway, Sam Hunt Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.2 miles from Haw River, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.21 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.5 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: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.9 miles (I 40; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Haw River, 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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