Origin
King, NC
Afternoon in King on Saturday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from King, NC to Greensboro, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
King, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
King, NC to Greensboro, NC is 41.8 miles and takes about 54 minutes via NC 74, Salem Parkway, and I-40, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within North Carolina for its entirety. Given its short distance and duration, it’s an ideal route for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace. You'll primarily be on well-maintained roads, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NC 74 | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Salem Parkway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| I 40 | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Freeman Mill Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Edgeworth Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NC 74
— 13.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between King, NC and Greensboro, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto US 52
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74
13 mi
·
15 min
·
NC 74
Toward NC 74 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53B
Toward US 421 South: Greensboro
6
Merge onto US 421; NC 150
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 218B
Toward Freeman Mill Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto Freeman Mill Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Freeman Mill Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn straight onto Freeman Mill Road
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Freeman Mill Road
11
Continue on South Edgeworth Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Edgeworth Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Market Street
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from King, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 41.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
NC 74
Keep slight left at fork onto NC 74 toward NC 74 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NC 74 East
6
19.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 421 South: Greensboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 53B
Toward US 421 South: Greensboro
8
31.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Freeman Mill Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 218B
Toward Freeman Mill Road
7
41.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
West Market Street
Turn right onto West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.54 one way
$13.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.15 | $14.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Greensboro, NC
Afternoon in Greensboro on Saturday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
12 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
54m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 85% of the route utilizing major roads like NC 74, Salem Parkway, and I-40. Expect mostly smooth, high-speed travel, which makes for a quick journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles on NC 74, offering a good period of consistent driving. The road character remains largely highway-focused throughout, minimizing distractions and maximizing forward momentum as you approach Greensboro.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on NC 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NC 74 and Salem Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near NC 74.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 41.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from King, NC to Greensboro, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
Martinsville
31.6 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 40
About the Cities
Arriving in Greensboro, NC
Full guide →Greensboro is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. It's nicknamed the "Gate City" for its historical role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants. Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point are the three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad, halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte.
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 54m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on NC 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Greensboro, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (NC 74): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greensboro, NC before heading back.
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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