Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pilot Mountain, NC
Anna McDonald
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Pilot Mountain, NC covers 26.2 miles and takes about 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on John Gold Memorial Expressway, South Key Street, North Liberty Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.2 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
This is a 32m highway drive covering 26.2 miles, with most of the trip on John Gold Memorial Expressway and South Key Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 23.2 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and South Key Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 5th Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Pilot Mountain, NC is easy. At 32m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Patterson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto North Patterson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NC 268: Pilot Mountain, Elkin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout onto NC 268 / South Key Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Pilot Mountain, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Elkin along the way.
Elkin
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 23.2 mi | 26m |
| South Key Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Liberty Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Patterson Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Key Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Pilot Mountain, NC.
Start on North Main Street
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Turn left onto North Patterson Avenue
Turn right onto North Liberty Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto NC 268
Continue on NC 268
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$4.10 one way
$8.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Night in Winston-Salem on Friday
Local time
10:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Pilot Mountain on Friday
Local time
10:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Winston-Salem, NC or browse trips ending in Pilot Mountain, NC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NC road trips.
