Origin
Maiden, NC
Late night in Maiden on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maiden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maiden, NC
Anna McDonald
Trip Overview
This 72.6-mile drive from Maiden, North Carolina to Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's ideal as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, making it an economical choice for a weekend getaway or a quick transfer. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct path through the Southeast region of North Carolina. You'll find this drive to be efficient and practical for reaching your destination without significant detours.
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
36.3 miles from Maiden, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Prepare for a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the journey utilizing major roadways. The bulk of your travel will be along I-40, where you'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 54.6 miles. This segment emphasizes speed and directness, allowing you to cover significant ground efficiently. While the route is predominantly interstate, keep an eye out for the transition onto North Carolina Avenue and then Salem Parkway as you approach Winston-Salem, which may offer a slight change in scenery and pace.
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 54.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Carolina Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 12 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 71.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
66.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
8
71.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m 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
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 54.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| North Carolina Avenue | 8.7 mi | 14m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Rock Barn Road Northeast | 1 mi | 1m |
| Conover Boulevard West | 1 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue Northeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Rockbarn Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maiden, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on US 321 Business
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 321 Business
8.7 mi
·
14 min
·
North Carolina Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Conover Boulevard West
4
Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Northeast
5
Continue on Rockbarn Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Rockbarn Road
6
Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Rock Barn Road Northeast
7
Turn right
340 ft
·
9 sec
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
55 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 188
Toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway
11
Merge onto US 421
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 233B
Toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on High Street Southwest
459 ft
·
15 sec
·
High Street Southwest
14
Turn left onto Cherry Street South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cherry Street South
15
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 30-minute drive, flexibility is key. You can depart anytime, but leaving earlier in the day will help you avoid potential traffic, especially as you near Winston-Salem. With only 72.6 miles and a fuel cost of approximately $11, you won't need frequent stops for gas. The longest stretch is 54.6 miles on I-40, so plan for a brief break before or after this segment if needed. Be mindful of the transition from I-40 to North Carolina Avenue and then Salem Parkway; these changes in road name and style are the main navigational points to watch for.
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 36.3 miles from Maiden, NC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 72.6 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.3 miles or 47m 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 16m
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 Maiden, 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 Maiden, NC
This is one driving day of about 72.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Maiden, 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 I 40 for about 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.3 mi from Maiden, NC · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 72.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Maiden, 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
$11.35 one way
$22.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.41 | $24.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.44 | $26.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Late night in Winston-Salem on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 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
31 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 30m 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 Maiden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, North Carolina Avenue, Salem Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.3 miles from Maiden, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.35 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 72.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 12 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 71.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Maiden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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