Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Hillsborough, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillsborough, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Hillsborough, NC covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Salem Parkway, I 85 US 70 Connector for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.1 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 24m highway drive covering 67.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Salem Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.1 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 16 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 44.1 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 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
6
28.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
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 Hillsborough, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
Martinsville
19.1 mi in
|
~23m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 44.1 mi | 52m |
| Salem Parkway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| I 85 US 70 Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West King Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Hill Avenue North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lakeshore Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Latimer Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 44.1 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Hillsborough, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
3
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421; NC 150
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Salem Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40; US 29; US 220
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
35 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
142 ft
·
7 sec
11
Turn left onto NC 86 Truck
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 85 US 70 Connector
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto West Hill Avenue North
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hill Avenue North
13
Turn left onto Latimer Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Latimer Street
14
Turn right onto Lakeshore Drive
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Lakeshore Drive
15
Turn left onto West King Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West King Street
16
Arrive at destination
West King Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hillsborough, NC
The final approach into Hillsborough, 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
$10.60 one way
$21.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.59 | $23.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Hillsborough, NC
Late night in Hillsborough on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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 24m 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 Hillsborough, NC covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Salem Parkway, I 85 US 70 Connector. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 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 $10.60 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 67.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (US 421; NC 150 / Salem Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Hillsborough, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Martinsville along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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