The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 219.9 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 74, American Indian Highway, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89 miles on I 74.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109.9 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 219.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Sunset Beach, NC covers 219.9 miles and takes about 4h 39m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 219.9 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 18 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
American Indian Highway
33.6 mi
36m
Andrew Jackson Highway
27.2 mi
29m
New Britton Highway East
17 mi
29m
East Hamlet Avenue
12.8 mi
16m
Longwood Road Northwest
8.9 mi
18m
US 220
4.8 mi
6m
Seaside Road Southwest
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 89 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Sunset Beach, 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 232CToward US 52 South: LexingtonUse 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 107AToward I 40 East: GreensboroUse 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 196Toward I 74 East: High PointUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 220
4.8 mi·6 min·US 220
Exit 22Toward US 220 South: RockinghamUse 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
34 mi·36 min·American Indian Highway
17
Continue on US 74; NC 130
17 mi·18 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 701 Bypass
1.2 mi·2 min·Powell Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.2 mi·15 sec·Jk Powell Boulevard
21
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
0.5 mi·51 sec·Powell Boulevard
22
Continue on US 701 Bypass; NC 130
1.4 mi·2 min·South J K Powell Boulevard
23
Turn left onto NC 130
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Love Mill Road
24
Turn straight onto NC 130
1.5 mi·2 min·Vinson Boulevard
25
Continue on NC 130
17 mi·29 min·New Britton Highway East
26
Continue on NC 130
3.2 mi·4 min·Whiteville Road Northwest
27
Turn slight right onto Longwood Road Northwest
8.9 mi·18 min·Longwood Road Northwest
28
Continue on NC 904
3.6 mi·5 min·Seaside Road Southwest
29
Turn right onto NC 179 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·Sunset Boulevard North
30
Enter roundabout onto Sunset Boulevard South
31 ft·0 sec·Sunset Boulevard South
31
Continue on Sunset Boulevard South
0.4 mi·46 sec·Sunset Boulevard South
32
Arrive at destination
Sunset Boulevard South
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 109.9 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 2h 10m 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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunset Beach, 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 219.9 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 109.9 mi from Winston-Salem, NC
· 2h 10m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66
0
$23.09
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.24
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.79
$14.07
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning
in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 to 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 13 at 8:41PM EDT until April 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 8:14PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Destination
Sunset Beach, NC
Morning
in Sunset Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Rockingham, NC
110 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Sunset Beach, NC covers 219.9 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, American Indian Highway, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.9 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 $34.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 219.9 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 Sunset Beach, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
