Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Burnsville, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

146.7 mi

236 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 53m ★

6 AM

3h 5m

8 AM

3h 28m

10 AM

3h 13m

12 PM

3h 10m

3 PM

3h 14m

5 PM

3h 26m

8 PM

2h 58m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Burnsville, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Burnsville, NC covers 146.7 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, NC 226, US 19E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.94 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

73.3 miles from Winston-Salem, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 146.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 4m highway drive covering 146.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and NC 226. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.7 miles on I 40.

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

There are about 20 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 100.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and NC 226. 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.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 146.7 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 18 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.

On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Burnsville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Shelby along the way.

Shelby

106.9 mi in | ~2h 2m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	100.7 mi	1h 53m
NC 226	15 mi	22m
US 19E	13.1 mi	17m
Altapass Highway	4.5 mi	8m
Salem Parkway	4.5 mi	6m
Peppers Creek Road	4.5 mi	9m
US 221	1.2 mi	1m
East Main Street	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 100.7 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

101 mi · 1 hr 53 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward NC 226: Marion, Shelby

Turn right onto NC 226

15 mi · 22 min · NC 226

Continue on US 221

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 221

Turn left onto Peppers Creek Road

4.4 mi · 9 min · Peppers Creek Road

At end of road, turn right onto Peppers Creek Road

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Peppers Creek Road

Turn right onto Altapass Highway

4.5 mi · 8 min · Altapass Highway

Turn left onto US 19E

13 mi · 17 min · US 19E

Turn right onto East Main Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto Town Square

504 ft · 29 sec · Town Square

Turn right onto West Main Street

224 ft · 11 sec · West Main Street

Turn right onto Academy Street

24 ft · 1 sec · Academy Street

Arrive at destination

Academy Street

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 73.3 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.7 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 32 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.3 miles or 1h 24m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burnsville, 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 146.7 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Winston-Salem, 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.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 100.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.3 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 1h 24m into the drive

city in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marion, NC

73 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

Maine, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Granite Falls, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.7 miles.

Arriving in Burnsville, NC

The final approach into Burnsville, 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 Burnsville, NC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.94 one way

$45.88 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$25.08	$50.17
premium	$4.70	$27.15	$54.30
diesel	$5.61	$32.39	$64.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44	$15.40	$7.04
Efficient EV	36.7	$12.84	$5.87
EV Truck/SUV	58.7	$20.54	$9.39

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 14, 2026

Origin

Winston-Salem, NC

Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Thursday

Local time

3:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burnsville, NC

Afternoon in Burnsville on Thursday

Local time

3:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Marion, NC

73 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 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

3h 4m 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 Burnsville, NC covers 146.7 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, NC 226, US 19E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 73.3 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 $22.94 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.

On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Burnsville, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Shelby along the way.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Winston-Salem, NC

Buxton, NC 343.2 mi · 7h 7m Boiling Spring Lakes, NC 234.9 mi · 4h 39m Masonboro, NC 230.8 mi · 4h 30m Belville, NC 225.3 mi · 4h 26m Brices Creek, NC 219.8 mi · 4h 28m Bryson City, NC 207.4 mi · 4h 7m

More trips to Burnsville, NC

West Raleigh, NC 246.9 mi Greensboro, NC 174.4 mi High Point, NC 163.2 mi Concord, NC 135 mi Charlotte, NC 130.9 mi

Weekend drives from Winston-Salem, NC Scenic drives in NC

Explore more options from Winston-Salem, NC or browse trips ending in Burnsville, NC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.

Explore maps for Winston-Salem, NC or Burnsville, NC on MapSof.net.