Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 4m
Distance
207 mi
333 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, NC
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Washington, NC covers 207 miles and takes about 4h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, US 264, Salem Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.6 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.37 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
103.5 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 76.6 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 264 | 73.7 mi | 1h 24m |
| Salem Parkway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| I 87 | 16.8 mi | 17m |
| I 440 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Wade Avenue | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Stantonsburg Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| South Memorial Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Washington, NC.
Start on North Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
Keep slight left at fork onto US 421; NC 150
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Merge onto I 40; US 29; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728
Take the exit
Merge onto I 440; US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 87; US 64; US 264
Keep slight right at fork onto US 264
Turn straight onto Stantonsburg Road
Turn left onto US 13; NC 11; NC 43; NC 903
Turn right onto Airport Road
Continue on Mumford Road
At end of road, turn right onto NC 33
Continue on US 264
Arrive at destination
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.
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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.5 miles or 2h 3m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, NC than in the middle of the route.
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 207 miles and 4h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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.
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103.5 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 108.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Raleigh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 1728 / Wade Avenue toward Wade Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$32.37 one way
$64.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.39 | $70.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $38.31 | $76.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.70 | $91.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.73 | $9.94 |
| Efficient EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.11 | $8.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.8 | 1 | $28.98 | $13.25 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Washington on Saturday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
207 mi in 4h 4m, mostly highway — 76.6 mi of that is on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 264. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 207 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 19.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Winston-Salem, NC and Washington, NC, road signs point toward Martinsville, Wilson, Greenville and Downtown.
Martinsville
Wilson
Greenville
Downtown
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 207 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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