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Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

58m

Distance

45.9 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

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

Downtown Rockwell, NC, NC

Rockwell, NC

Alex Borelli

Trip Overview

The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC covers 45.9 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 158 East, Salem Parkway, US 52 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.18 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

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

23 miles from Winston-Salem, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 45.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 158 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 158 East
Salem Parkway
US 52 South
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Faith Road
North Main Street
South Main Gq Street
Broad Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: US 158 East — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Main Street

0.5 mi · 59 sec · North Main Street
2

Take the ramp sharp left toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
3

Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

0.3 mi · 22 sec · Salem Parkway
4

Take the exit slight right toward US 52 South: Lexington

0.2 mi · 32 sec · US 52 South: Lexington
5

Merge slight left onto John Gold Memorial Expressway

22 mi · 24 min · John Gold Memorial Expressway
6

Continue straight

3.7 mi · 4 min
7

Merge slight left

4.0 mi · 4 min
8

Continue straight

6.8 mi · 7 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle

0.1 mi · 19 sec · US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle
10

Keep slight left to continue on US 52 South: Albermarle

0.4 mi · 55 sec · US 52 South: Albermarle
11

Turn right onto Faith Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Faith Road
12

Turn left onto North Main Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
13

Continue on South Main Gq Street

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Main Gq Street
14

Turn right

0.3 mi · 24 sec
15

Continue straight

3.2 mi · 5 min
16

Turn left onto Broad Street

75 ft · 3 sec · Broad Street
17

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 29m into the drive.

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 10 miles or 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 23 miles or 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockwell, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Winston-Salem, NC.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Winston-Salem, NC

This is one driving day of about 45.9 miles and 58m.

At 45.9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 29m into the drive

town in North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Spencer, NC

23 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

Clemmons, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Spencer, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rockwell, NC

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Rockwell, NC if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.18 one way

$14.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $7.85 $15.70
premium $4.70 $8.50 $16.99
diesel $5.61 $10.13 $20.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.82 $2.20
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.43 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Winston-Salem, NC

Evening in Winston-Salem on Wednesday

Local time

5:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rockwell, NC

Evening in Rockwell on Wednesday

Local time

5:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Spencer, NC

23 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

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

58m 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 Rockwell, NC covers 45.9 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 158 East, Salem Parkway, US 52 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23 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 $7.18 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.
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Winston-Salem, NC to Rockwell, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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