Trip from Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

196.6 mi

316 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 12m ★

6 AM

3h 24m

8 AM

3h 48m

10 AM

3h 32m

12 PM

3h 30m

3 PM

3h 34m

5 PM

3h 47m

8 PM

3h 17m

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

The drive from Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 196.6 miles and takes about 3h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Franck Street, Richlands Highway, Beulaville Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.74 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

98.3 miles from Richlands, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 196.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 23m drive with frequent turns across 196.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Franck Street 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 3h 23m 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 Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Franck Street	—	—
Richlands Highway	—	—
Beulaville Highway	—	—
South Kenansville Bypass	—	—
Salem Parkway	—	—
Main Street	—	—
South Main Street	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Franck Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Wilmington Street

190 ft · 10 sec · South Wilmington Street

2

Turn right onto West Franck Street

0.4 mi · 57 sec · West Franck Street

3

At the end of the road, turn right onto Richlands Highway

2.2 mi · 3 min · Richlands Highway

4

Continue on Beulaville Highway

21 mi · 29 min · Beulaville Highway

5

Turn left onto South Kenansville Bypass

5.8 mi · 8 min · South Kenansville Bypass

6

Take the exit right

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min

7

Keep slight left

86 mi · 1 hr 38 min

8

Keep slight right

7.7 mi · 9 min

9

Keep slight right

13 mi · 15 min

10

Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway

13 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway

11

Take the exit slight right toward Main Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Main Street

12

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street

13

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 98.3 miles from Richlands, NC, or about 1h 41m 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 43 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.3 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 47m

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 Richlands, 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 Richlands, NC

This is one driving day of about 196.6 miles and 3h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Richlands, NC.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.3 mi from Richlands, NC · 1h 41m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Durham, NC

98 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

Wallace, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Durham, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.3 miles from Richlands, 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

$30.74 one way

$61.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$33.62	$67.23
premium	$4.70	$36.39	$72.77
diesel	$5.61	$43.41	$86.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	59	$20.64	$9.44
Efficient EV	49.2	$17.20	$7.86
EV Truck/SUV	78.6	$27.52	$12.58

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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

Richlands, NC

Afternoon in Richlands on Thursday

Local time

12:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Thursday

Local time

12:08 PM

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

5 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

3h 23m 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 Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 196.6 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Franck Street, Richlands Highway, Beulaville Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 98.3 miles from Richlands, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is easy. At 3h 23m 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 Richlands, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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