Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Bethlehem, NC

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

75.3 mi

121 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 26m ★

6 AM

1h 33m

8 AM

1h 47m

10 AM

1h 38m

12 PM

1h 37m

3 PM

1h 39m

5 PM

1h 47m

8 PM

1h 29m

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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Bethlehem, NC

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Trip Overview

This straightforward 75.3-mile drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Bethlehem, NC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes. The route is predominantly highway, making it a quick journey through the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on I-40, so expect a consistent driving experience. This is a practical option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within North Carolina.

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

37.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for 84% of this journey, primarily on I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.8 miles on I-40, offering a continuous cruising experience. While the main roads include I-40, Salem Parkway, and North Center Street, the interstate dominates the overall feel. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic meandering, providing a direct connection between Winston-Salem and Bethlehem.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salem Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near West 1st Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 75.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Marshall Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 1st Street

Turn right onto West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Marshall Street South

Turn left onto Marshall Street South

Navigation decision point

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West

0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway

Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150 / Salem Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

5.3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 238 Toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Winston-Salem, NC and Bethlehem, NC, road signs point toward Statesville and Old Us 70.

Statesville

5.3 mi in | ~7m

Old Us 70

63 mi in | ~1h 12m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	56.8 mi	1h 3m
Salem Parkway	4.5 mi	6m
North Center Street	2.4 mi	4m
West 1st Street	2.4 mi	3m
McDonald Parkway	1.8 mi	2m
Tate Boulevard	1.6 mi	2m
16th Street Northeast	1.3 mi	2m
Cloninger Mill Road Northeast	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 56.8 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Main Street

0.4 mi · 41 sec · North Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto West 1st Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West 1st Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto Marshall Street South

302 ft · 5 sec · Marshall Street South

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150

4.5 mi · 6 min · Salem Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 43 sec

Exit 238 Toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 40 West: Statesville

Merge onto I 40

57 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Exit 130 Toward Old US 70

Turn right onto West 1st Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street

Continue on Tate Boulevard

1.6 mi · 2 min · Tate Boulevard

Turn right onto McDonald Parkway

1.8 mi · 2 min · McDonald Parkway

Continue on 24th Street Northeast

0.4 mi · 51 sec · 24th Street Northeast

Turn straight onto 29th Avenue Drive Northeast

1.1 mi · 1 min · 29th Avenue Drive Northeast

Turn right onto 16th Street Northeast

1.3 mi · 2 min · 16th Street Northeast

Turn slight left onto Cloninger Mill Road Northeast

1.1 mi · 2 min · Cloninger Mill Road Northeast

Turn right onto NC 127

2.4 mi · 4 min · North Center Street

Turn right onto Telephone Exchange Road

123 ft · 5 sec · Telephone Exchange Road

Arrive at destination

Telephone Exchange Road

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 33-minute duration, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by lunchtime, or even make it a quick afternoon excursion. With no specific stops recommended, you can decide on the fly if you need a break. Keep in mind the longest stretch is 56.8 miles on I-40, so plan your fuel accordingly before embarking. The $12 fuel cost is a good estimate to keep in mind for your budget.

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 37.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.8 miles.

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 75.3 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.6 miles or 44m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethlehem, 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 75.3 miles and 1h 33m.

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.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 56.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.6 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cornelius, NC

38 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

Cornelius, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cornelius, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bethlehem, NC

The final approach into Bethlehem, 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 Bethlehem, 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

$11.78 one way

$23.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$12.88	$25.75
premium	$4.70	$13.94	$27.87
diesel	$5.61	$16.63	$33.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.6	$7.91	$3.61
Efficient EV	18.8	$6.59	$3.01
EV Truck/SUV	30.1	$10.54	$4.82

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Winston-Salem, NC

Evening in Winston-Salem on Tuesday

Local time

5:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bethlehem, NC

Evening in Bethlehem on Tuesday

Local time

5:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

30 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 33m 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 Bethlehem, NC covers 75.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Salem Parkway, North Center 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 37.6 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 $11.78 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.

Between Winston-Salem, NC and Bethlehem, NC, road signs point toward Statesville and Old Us 70.

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