Trip from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

43m

Distance

33.3 mi

54 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min

4 AM

0h 40m ★

6 AM

0h 44m

8 AM

0h 51m

10 AM

0h 46m

12 PM

0h 45m

3 PM

0h 46m

5 PM

0h 50m

8 PM

0h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Pleasant Garden to Winston-Salem, you will find this 33.3-mile trip to be a straightforward commute. Clocking in at approximately 43 minutes, the drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return without needing an overnight stay. Your travel budget remains minimal, with fuel costs estimated at around $5 for the one-way journey. By utilizing a combination of the Greensboro Urban Loop, US 421, and the Salem Parkway, you will transition efficiently between these two Southeast locations. This route provides a functional connection for travelers who value speed and simplicity over a multi-day itinerary.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

16.7 miles from Pleasant Garden, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving profile that balances suburban transitions with faster highway travel. Roughly 58% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on highways, providing a steady pace as you move toward your destination. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.4 miles while navigating the Salem Parkway, which helps maintain momentum. Because the route integrates local roads with major thoroughfares, the road feel changes from localized driving to more consistent highway speeds. This blend ensures the 33.3-mile trip remains efficient while preventing the monotony often associated with longer, purely interstate treks.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Ritters Lake Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ritters Lake Road	—	—
South Elm Eugene Street	—	—
Greensboro Urban Loop	—	—
I 40 West	—	—
Salem Parkway	—	—
Main Street	—	—
South Main Street	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Ritters Lake Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Garden, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.

1

Start on Pleasant Garden Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Pleasant Garden Road

2

Turn left onto Ritters Lake Road

0.9 mi · 3 min · Ritters Lake Road

3

Turn right onto South Elm Eugene Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Elm Eugene Street

4

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 45 sec

5

Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

2.6 mi · 2 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

6

Keep slight right to continue on Greensboro Urban Loop

6.7 mi · 7 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

7

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem

5.8 mi · 6 min · I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem

8

Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway

13 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway

9

Take the exit slight right toward Main Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Main Street

10

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street

11

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 43-minute trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. You will not need to plan for formal rest stops, as the distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep an eye on traffic patterns when merging onto the Greensboro Urban Loop, as volume can fluctuate depending on the time of day. With fuel costs estimated at just $5, you can easily top off your tank before leaving Pleasant Garden to avoid any mid-trip stops. Prioritize a departure that avoids peak morning or evening congestion to ensure your transit on the Salem Parkway remains as smooth as possible.

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 16.7 miles from Pleasant Garden, NC, or about 21m into the drive.

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 33 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 16.7 miles or 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Pleasant Garden, NC.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pleasant Garden, NC

This is one driving day of about 33.3 miles and 43m.

At 33.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.7 mi from Pleasant Garden, NC · 21m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Rural Hall, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jamestown, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Pleasant Garden, 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

$5.21 one way

$10.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$5.69	$11.39
premium	$4.70	$6.16	$12.33
diesel	$5.61	$7.35	$14.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	10	$3.50	$1.60
Efficient EV	8.3	$2.91	$1.33
EV Truck/SUV	13.3	$4.66	$2.13

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 13, 2026

Origin

Pleasant Garden, NC

Night in Pleasant Garden on Wednesday

Local time

9:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Night in Winston-Salem on Wednesday

Local time

9:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 9 mph 0% chance 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

10 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

43m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 33.3 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Ritters Lake Road, South Elm Eugene Street, Greensboro Urban Loop. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 16.7 miles from Pleasant Garden, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.21 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.

The drive from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Pleasant Garden, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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