Origin
King, NC
Evening in King on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from King, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
22m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
4 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
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
This short 16-mile drive from King, NC, to Winston-Salem, NC, will take you about 22 minutes to complete. With 85% of the journey on highways, it's a quick and efficient trip, perfect for a single day. You'll primarily be on the John Gold Memorial Expressway, North Main Street, and East 5th Street. The estimated fuel cost for this route is a very manageable $3, making it an economical option. Since it's such a brief journey, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region.
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
8 miles from King, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 16-mile trip, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.2 miles, primarily on the John Gold Memorial Expressway. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. As you transition from the expressway to North Main Street and then East 5th Street, you'll likely notice a shift in the driving environment, moving from faster highway speeds to more local road conditions as you approach Winston-Salem. The overall profile is one of efficiency and direct travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John Gold Memorial Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and North Main Street. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16 miles you will encounter 6 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 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge onto US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
8
15.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward US 311 North: Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Downtown
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 110B
Toward US 311 North: Martin Luther King Jr Driv...
4
15.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
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 Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
15.1 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| East 5th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Research Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 13.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between King, NC and Winston-Salem, 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 right at fork onto US 52
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Exit 119
Toward US 52 South: Winston-Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 110B
Toward US 311 North: Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on North Research Parkway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Research Parkway
7
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
East 5th Street
8
Turn left onto North Main Street
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given that this trip is only 16 miles and takes approximately 22 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart King, NC, at any time of day without needing to worry extensively about traffic congestion. With a fuel cost estimated at just $3, refueling won't be a significant concern. Since there are no specified stops and the drive is so short, you can easily complete this journey in one go. A helpful tip for this route is to pay close attention to signage as you transition from the John Gold Memorial Expressway onto North Main Street and East 5th Street, as these changes in road type can happen quickly.
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 8 miles from King, NC, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.2 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
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 King, 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 King, NC
This is one driving day of about 16 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from King, 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 John Gold Memorial Expressway for about 13.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from King, NC · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8 miles from King, 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
$2.50 one way
$5.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.74 | $5.47 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.96 | $5.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Hanes Towne Village Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Winston-Salem, NC
Tesla
12 DCFC
Parkway Ford
Winston-Salem, NC
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Flow Chevrolet- Buick/GMC- Cadillac of Winston Salem
WINSTON SALEM, NC
EV Connect
1 DCFC
BOBKINGHYUNDAI FAST CHARGER 2
Winston-Salem, NC
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
EV Connect: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Tesla: 1
ChargePoint Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Evening in Winston-Salem on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
47 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
22m 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 King, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 16 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Gold Memorial Expressway, North Main Street, East 5th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 miles from King, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.50 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 16 miles you will encounter 6 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 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (US 52 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from King, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
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