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Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Pembroke, NC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

141.5 mi

228 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m

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

Downtown Pembroke, NC, NC

Pembroke, NC

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Pembroke, NC covers 141.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 74, Andrew Jackson Highway, East Hamlet Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89 miles on I 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.13 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

70.7 miles from Winston-Salem, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 141.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 51m highway drive covering 141.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 74 and Andrew Jackson Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 89 miles on I 74.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 89 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and Andrew Jackson Highway. 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 141.5 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These 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
8
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward US 52 South: Lexington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 232C Toward US 52 South: Lexington
7
3.4 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward I 40 East: Greensboro

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 107A Toward I 40 East: Greensboro
7
5.9 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 74

Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 East: High Point

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 196 Toward I 74 East: High Point
7
94.9 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 220

Take the exit onto US 220 toward US 220 South: Rockingham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 22 Toward US 220 South: Rockingham

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 74 89 mi 1h 39m
Andrew Jackson Highway 15.5 mi 18m
East Hamlet Avenue 12.8 mi 16m
US 220 4.8 mi 6m
American Indian Highway 3.5 mi 3m
Hamlet Avenue 3.5 mi 5m
West Broad Avenue 2.5 mi 4m
John Gold Memorial Expressway 2.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 74 — 89 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Salem Parkway
4

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 232C Toward US 52 South: Lexington Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto US 52; NC 8

2.2 mi · 3 min · John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Exit 107A Toward I 40 East: Greensboro Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 40

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 40
8

Take the exit onto I 74

89 mi · 1 hr 39 min · I 74
Exit 196 Toward I 74 East: High Point Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto US 220

4.8 mi · 6 min · US 220
Exit 22 Toward US 220 South: Rockingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Broad Avenue
11

Continue on US 74 BUS

3.5 mi · 5 min · Hamlet Avenue
12

Turn left onto US 74 BUS

466 ft · 11 sec · Raleigh Street
13

Turn right onto US 74 BUS

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Spring Street
14

Turn slight left onto East Hamlet Avenue

13 mi · 16 min · East Hamlet Avenue
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 74

10 mi · 10 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on US 74

3.5 mi · 3 min · American Indian Highway
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 74 Alternate East
18

Turn straight onto US 74 ALT; US 74 BUS

5.2 mi · 7 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
19

Turn left onto NC 710

1.0 mi · 1 min · NC 710
20

Continue on NC 710

0.1 mi · 14 sec · NC 710
21

Turn straight onto NC 711

2.1 mi · 3 min · NC 711
22

Turn right onto Vance Street

122 ft · 5 sec · Vance Street
23

Arrive at destination

Vance Street

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.7 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89 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 31 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 70.7 miles or 1h 21m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pembroke, 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 141.5 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 74 for about 89 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 70.7 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 1h 21m into the drive

city in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, NC

71 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

Archdale, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.7 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 74 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89 miles.

Arriving in Pembroke, NC

The final approach into Pembroke, 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 Pembroke, 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

$22.13 one way

$44.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.19 $48.39
premium $4.70 $26.19 $52.38
diesel $5.61 $31.24 $62.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.4 0 $14.86 $6.79
Efficient EV 35.4 0 $12.38 $5.66
EV Truck/SUV 56.6 0 $19.81 $9.06

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% 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

Night in Winston-Salem on Thursday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pembroke, NC

Night in Pembroke on Thursday

Local time

9:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Troy, NC

71 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

7 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

2h 51m 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 Pembroke, NC covers 141.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, Andrew Jackson Highway, East Hamlet Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.7 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 $22.13 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 141.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Winston-Salem, NC to Pembroke, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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