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Create accountDrive Time
3h 11m
Distance
162.4 mi
261 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
32 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mars Hill, NC
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Mars Hill, NC covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 26, Billy Graham Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 134 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.99 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
81.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
This is a 3h 11m highway drive covering 162.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 134 miles on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 26. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 162.4 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: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240 / Billy Graham Freeway toward I 240, US 74A: West Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 134 mi | 2h 32m |
| I 26 | 14.3 mi | 17m |
| Billy Graham Freeway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Salem Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| NC 213 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Mars Hill, NC.
Start on North Main Street
Turn right onto West 1st Street
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 25
Turn straight
Turn right onto Broadway Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 26; US 19; US 23; US 70
Continue on I 26; US 19; US 23; US 25; US 70
Take the exit
Continue on NC 213
Arrive at destination
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.
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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mars Hill, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 162.4 miles and 3h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.2 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134 miles.
The final approach into Mars Hill, 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 Mars Hill, 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.
Regular Gas
$25.99 one way
$51.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $28.32 | $56.64 |
| premium | $4.78 | $30.55 | $61.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.08 | $72.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
32 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Publix - Tesla Supercharger
Statesville, NC
16 DCFC
Hanes Towne Village Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Winston-Salem, NC
12 DCFC
Winston-Salem, NC Rechargery Relay - Jonestown Rd
Winston-Salem, NC
12 DCFC
Lowes Foods - Tesla Supercharger
Clemmons, NC
12 DCFC
Hickory, NC - NC-127 - Tesla Supercharger
Hickory, NC
12 DCFC
Stuckey's - Tesla Supercharger
Old Fort, NC
12 DCFC
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Mocksville, NC
8 DCFC
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Hickory, NC
8 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.05 | $7.80 |
| Efficient EV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.21 | $6.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65 | 0 | $22.74 | $10.39 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Monday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Mars Hill on Monday
Local time
2:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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