Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Night in Winston-Salem on Thursday
Local time
10:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Southmont, NC
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
46m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southmont, NC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.1-mile drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Southmont, NC takes about 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll spend about 70% of your time on highways, with a significant 21.5-mile stretch on the John Gold Memorial Expressway. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $5, and with no designated stops, you have the flexibility to go directly or add your own detours. This route stays within the Southeast region and North Carolina, offering a quick and convenient journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with about 70% of the 35.1 miles being on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.5 miles on the John Gold Memorial Expressway, allowing for consistent progress. The roads transition from the John Gold Memorial Expressway to Linwood-Southmont Road and I-285, suggesting a mix of expressway and interstate driving. This profile means you'll likely experience efficient travel with fewer interruptions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John Gold Memorial Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and Linwood-Southmont Road. 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
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
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 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
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
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge onto US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 84
5
25.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Hargrave Lane
Turn left onto Hargrave Lane
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Linwood-Southmont Road | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| I 285 | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| Old Linwood Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hargrave Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hargrave Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Gold Memorial Expressway
— 21.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Southmont, 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
22 mi
·
24 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 84
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto Hargrave Lane
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Hargrave Lane
9
Turn right onto NC 47
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hargrave Road
10
Continue on NC 47
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Linwood Road
11
Continue on NC 47
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Linwood-Southmont Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Linwood-Southmont Road
13
Turn left onto West Holloway Church Road
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Holloway Church Road
14
Turn left onto NC 8
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
NC 8
15
Arrive at destination
NC 8
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southmont, NC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Southmont, 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
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.50 | $12.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Southmont, NC
Night in Southmont on Thursday
Local time
10:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lexington, NC
18 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
32 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
46m 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 Southmont, NC covers 35.1 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Gold Memorial Expressway, Linwood-Southmont Road, I 285. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 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 $5.49 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 is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
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 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Winston-Salem, NC to Southmont, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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