Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Thurmond, NC

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Salem Parkway, I 77, US 21 BYP. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 26.5 miles from Winston-Salem, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

53 mi

85 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min

4 AM

1h 0m ★

6 AM

1h 6m

8 AM

1h 16m

10 AM

1h 9m

12 PM

1h 8m

3 PM

1h 10m

5 PM

1h 16m

8 PM

1h 2m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Thurmond, NC covers 53 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Salem Parkway, I 77, US 21 BYP for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.5 miles on Salem Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 53 miles, with most of the trip on Salem Parkway and I 77. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.5 miles on Salem Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Salem Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Salem Parkway and I 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near West 1st Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (Marshall Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6

0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 1st Street

Turn right onto West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

5

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Marshall Street South

Turn left onto Marshall Street South

Navigation decision point

7

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West

7

33.3 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward I 77 North: Elkin

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265A Toward I 77 North: Elkin

8

43.4 mi into trip | ~51m in | US 21 BYP

Keep slight left at fork onto US 21 BYP toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Thurmond, NC, road signs begin pointing toward Roaring Gap along the way.

Roaring Gap

43.4 mi in | ~51m | via US 21 BYP

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Salem Parkway	32.5 mi	38m
I 77	9.7 mi	10m
US 21 BYP	9 mi	12m
Thurmond Road	0.4 mi	<1m
North Main Street	0.4 mi	<1m
West 1st Street	0.2 mi	<1m
North Center Church Road	0.2 mi	<1m
Marshall Street South	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Salem Parkway — 32.5 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Main Street

0.4 mi · 41 sec · North Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

2

Turn right onto West 1st Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West 1st Street

Use the straight lane.

3

Turn left onto Marshall Street South

302 ft · 5 sec · Marshall Street South

4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West Use the straight / right lanes.

5

Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150

33 mi · 38 min · Salem Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 265A Toward I 77 North: Elkin Use the slight right lane.

7

Merge onto I 77

9.7 mi · 10 min · I 77

8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 21 BYP

9.0 mi · 12 min · US 21 BYP

Toward US 21 Bypass North: Sparta, Roaring Gap Use the slight left / straight lanes.

9

Turn right onto North Center Church Road

0.2 mi · 42 sec · North Center Church Road

10

Turn left onto Thurmond Road

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Thurmond Road

11

Turn right onto Billings Lane

65 ft · 2 sec · Billings Lane

12

Arrive at destination

Billings Lane

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.5 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 31m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yadkinville, NC

27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yadkinville, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Thurmond, NC

The final approach into Thurmond, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.29 one way

$16.58 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$9.06	$18.12
premium	$4.70	$9.81	$19.62
diesel	$5.61	$11.70	$23.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	15.9	$5.56	$2.54
Efficient EV	13.3	$4.64	$2.12
EV Truck/SUV	21.2	$7.42	$3.39

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 Thursday

Local time

7:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Thurmond, NC

Evening in Thurmond on Thursday

Local time

7:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

8 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

1h 5m 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 Thurmond, NC covers 53 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.