Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Monday
Local time
3:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
94.4 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apex, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC covers 94.4 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 158 East, Salem Parkway, I 73 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.11 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 34m drive with frequent turns across 94.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 158 East 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 Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 1h 34m 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 Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 158 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Salem Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 73 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 421 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 421 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NC 55 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Williams Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 158 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Apex, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Take the ramp sharp left toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
3
Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Parkway
4
Keep slight left to continue on Salem Parkway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Salem Parkway
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 73 South, US 421 South: Asheboro, Durham
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Sanford
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 421: Sanford
7
Keep slight right to continue on US 421 South: Sanford
26 mi
·
32 min
·
US 421 South: Sanford
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 64: Siler City, Pittsboro
9
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
10
Keep slight left
22 mi
·
28 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward NC 55: Apex, Durham
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
NC 55: Apex, Durham
12
Turn right onto West Williams Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Williams Street
13
Turn left onto Hunter Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunter Street
14
Turn right onto North Salem Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Salem Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 47.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 47m 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 80 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apex, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Winston-Salem, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.2 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apex, NC
The final approach into Apex, 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 Apex, 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
$15.11 one way
$30.22 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $16.46 | $32.92 |
| premium | $4.78 | $17.76 | $35.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.97 | $41.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.22 | $6.04 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Apex, NC
Afternoon in Apex on Monday
Local time
3:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
25 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 34m 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 Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC covers 94.4 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 158 East, Salem Parkway, I 73 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.11 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 Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC is easy. At 1h 34m 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 Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Winston-Salem, NC to Apex, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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