Origin
Madison, NC
Afternoon in Madison on Friday
Local time
12:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, NC
Josh Sorenson
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Madison to Winston-Salem, you are in for a quick 30.8-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance makes an overnight stay unnecessary. Budgeting around $5 for fuel covers the expenses for this straightforward Southeast transit. Because both cities are located within the same region of North Carolina, you will find the transition between them seamless and familiar. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring extensive logistical planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m 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
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on East Academy Street, NC 68 South, and Belews Creek Road to navigate the landscape. With 0% of the drive spent on major highways, you will navigate local thoroughfares rather than high-speed lanes. The road profile is consistent, featuring no long, uninterrupted stretches; in fact, the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Academy Street. This character makes for a hands-on drive that rewards attentive steering as you transition between these two North Carolina towns.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 158 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 158 and US 220. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near US 220.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (US 220): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 220
Merge onto US 220
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 220
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NC 68
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 68 toward NC 68 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NC 68 South
7
30.1 mi into trip
|
~44m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| US 158 | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| US 220 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| NC 68 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| East Academy Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Belews Creek Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 158
— 18.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 220 Business; NC 704
23 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn left onto US 311; US 220 Business; NC 704
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Academy Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto US 220
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 220
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 220
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 220
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 220
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NC 68
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
NC 68
Toward NC 68 South
8
Turn right onto NC 65
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Belews Creek Road
9
Continue on US 158
18 mi
·
25 min
·
US 158
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 233A
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.4 mi from Madison, NC · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Madison, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Winston-Salem, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.80 one way
$9.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Friday
Local time
12:55 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
45m 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 Madison, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 30.7 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 158, US 220, NC 68. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.4 miles from Madison, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.80 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 is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (US 220): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7 miles (US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Madison, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Winston-Salem, NC
More from Madison, NC
More trips to Winston-Salem, NC
Explore more options from Madison, NC or browse trips ending in Winston-Salem, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.