Drive Time
3h 40m
Distance
224.1 mi
361 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
Photo: Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Sunset Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 224.1 miles and takes about 3h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sunset Boulevard North, Seaside Road Southwest, Longwood Road Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.95 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
112.1 miles from Sunset Beach, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 40m drive with frequent turns across 224.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Boulevard North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Seaside Road Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Longwood Road Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Whiteville Road Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Britton Highway East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Vinson Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Love Mill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South J K Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Sunset Beach, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
Start on Sunset Boulevard South
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Sunset Boulevard North
Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard North
Turn left onto Seaside Road Southwest
Continue on Longwood Road Northwest
Continue on Whiteville Road Northwest
Continue on New Britton Highway East
Continue on Vinson Boulevard
Continue on East Love Mill Road
Turn right onto South J K Powell Boulevard
Continue on South Powell Boulevard
Continue on Jk Powell Boulevard
Continue on Powell Boulevard
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left onto Andrew Jackson Highway
Continue on American Indian Highway
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
Keep slight left to continue on G R Kindley Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Rockingham
Turn right
Turn straight
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on I 73 North, I 74 West, US 220 North: Asheboro
Keep slight right to continue on I 74 West: High Point, Winston-Salem
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 52 North: Mount Airy
Merge slight left onto John Gold Memorial Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward US 158 West, US 421 North: Salem Parkway
Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward Main Street
Turn slight right onto South Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.1 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach, NC
This is one driving day of about 224.1 miles and 3h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.1 mi from Sunset Beach, NC · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.1 miles from Sunset Beach, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$34.95 one way
$69.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $39.08 | $78.15 |
| premium | $4.78 | $42.16 | $84.31 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $49.62 | $99.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.53 | $10.76 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.61 | $8.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.6 | 1 | $31.37 | $14.34 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
12:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
12:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
64°F
Fayetteville, NC
112 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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