Origin
Pilot Mountain, NC
Late night in Pilot Mountain on Saturday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pilot Mountain, NC to Winston-Salem, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
26.4 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pilot Mountain, NC
Anna McDonald
Trip Overview
Pilot Mountain to Winston-Salem is 26.4 miles and takes about 32 minutes via US 52, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, highway-focused journey stays within North Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a quick commute that's ideal for travelers looking to get from Point A to Point B efficiently. With no planned stops and a straightforward path, this route is designed for simplicity and speed. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a no-fuss drive.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 26.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the route utilizing major roads like US 52 and the John Gold Memorial Expressway. You'll experience a straightforward, high-speed journey for most of the 26.4 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch on US 52 covers 14.7 miles, offering a consistent pace. As you approach Winston-Salem, the route transitions onto John Gold Memorial Expressway and then North Key Street, providing a clear path into the city. Expect a smooth, efficient driving experience characteristic of well-maintained state highways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 52 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and John Gold Memorial Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near NC 268 / South Key Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.2 miles (NC 268 / South Key Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NC 268 / South Key Street
Enter roundabout onto NC 268 / South Key Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 52
Merge onto US 52
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
25.5 mi into trip
|
~30m 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...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| North Key Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East 5th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Research Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Key Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 14.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pilot Mountain, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
1
Start on NC 268
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Key Street
2
Enter roundabout onto NC 268
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Key Street
3
Continue on NC 268
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
South Key Street
4
Enter roundabout
188 ft
·
3 sec
5
Continue
219 ft
·
4 sec
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
7
Merge onto US 52
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
Continue on North Research Parkway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Research Parkway
11
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
East 5th Street
12
Turn left onto North Main Street
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.13 one way
$8.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.51 | $9.03 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.89 | $9.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Late night in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
2:27 AM
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
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
32m 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 Pilot Mountain, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 26.4 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 52, John Gold Memorial Expressway, North Key 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 13.2 miles from Pilot Mountain, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.13 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 26.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.2 miles (NC 268 / South Key Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pilot Mountain, 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.
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