Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Night in Winston-Salem on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Clinton, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
37.2 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Clinton, NC covers 37.2 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Salisbury Road, US 158 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.82 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 37.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 37.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Salisbury Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 13.4 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 18 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 13.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Salisbury Road. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 1st Street
Turn right onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Marshall Street South
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
Navigation decision point
7
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
8
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
6
19.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Farmington Road
Enter roundabout onto Farmington Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 Clinton, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.
Statesville
5.3 mi in
|
~7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 13.4 mi | 14m |
| Salisbury Road | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| US 158 | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Point Road | 4.1 mi | 15m |
| Farmington Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Cherry Hill Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 13.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Clinton, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
302 ft
·
5 sec
·
Marshall Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 238
Toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 40 West: Statesville
8
Merge onto I 40
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Farmington Road
10
Enter roundabout onto Farmington Road
248 ft
·
7 sec
·
Farmington Road
11
Continue on Farmington Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Farmington Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Farmington Road
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Farmington Road
13
Continue on Farmington Road
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Farmington Road
14
Turn right onto US 158
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US 158
15
Continue on US 601
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Salisbury Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherry Hill Road
17
Turn right onto Point Road
4.1 mi
·
15 min
·
Point Road
18
Arrive at destination
Point Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.6 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clinton, NC
The final approach into Clinton, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.82 one way
$11.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.88 | $13.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.21 | $16.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Clinton, NC
Night in Clinton on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Mocksville, NC
19 mi in
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
6 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
1h 2m 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 Clinton, NC covers 37.2 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Salisbury Road, US 158. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.6 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 $5.82 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Clinton, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Statesville along the way.
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