The drive from Lowesville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I-77 North, NC 73 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.09 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.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Lowesville, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 77.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I-77 North. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.4 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 21 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 34.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I-77 North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 77 North: Statesville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 77 North: Statesville
7
35.9 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
8
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
7
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Lowesville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
35.7 mi in|~46m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
34.4 mi
37m
I-77 North
24.3 mi
28m
NC 73
7.8 mi
12m
Salem Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
NC 16 BUS
1.6 mi
2m
South Pilot Knob Road
0.8 mi
1m
I 77 North
0.7 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 34.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowesville, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on Old Plank Road
77 ft·9 sec·Old Plank Road
2
Turn left onto NC 16 BUS
1.6 mi·2 min·NC 16 BUS
3
Enter roundabout onto SR 1394
102 ft·1 sec·South Pilot Knob Road
4
Continue on SR 1394
0.8 mi·1 min·South Pilot Knob Road
5
Turn right onto NC 73
7.8 mi·12 min·NC 73
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 77 North: StatesvilleUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 77
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 77 North
8
Continue on I 77
2.6 mi·3 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77; US 21
22 mi·25 min·I-77 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 51Toward I 40: Winston-Salem, Asheville
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 40 East: Winston-SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 51AToward I 40 East: Winston-Salem
13
Merge onto I 40
34 mi·37 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·36 sec
Exit 188Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
15
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi·6 min·Salem Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 233BToward Marshall Street, TO Cherry StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft·15 sec·High Street Southwest
18
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi·26 sec·Cherry Street South
19
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
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 38.7 miles from Lowesville, NC, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
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 Lowesville, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lowesville, NC
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lowesville, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.7 mi from Lowesville, NC
· 51m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lowesville, NC
Morning
in Lowesville on Friday
Local time
7:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Friday
Local time
7:11 AM
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
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 35m 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 Lowesville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I-77 North, NC 73. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.7 miles from Lowesville, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.09 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 77.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lowesville, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
