Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
3:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Albemarle, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
66.4 mi
107 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albemarle, NC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Winston-Salem to Albemarle, you can expect a straightforward 66.4-mile journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes to complete. This Southeast route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance. You will primarily navigate via the John Gold Memorial Expressway, I-85, and Stokes Ferry Road. With an estimated fuel cost of just $11, it is an economical choice for a weekend outing or a necessary commute. Because the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to explore your destination as soon as you arrive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| I 85 | 10.8 mi | 11m |
| Stokes Ferry Road | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| Old Salisbury Road | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| US 52 | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Liberty Road | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| I 285 | 3.7 mi | 3m |
| Salisbury Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
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 Albemarle, 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
3.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 285; US 29; US 52; US 70
7
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 52; US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 85; US 52
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 85; US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 52
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
US 52
Exit 76
Toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 52
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 52
Toward US 52 South: Albermarle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Newsome Road
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
Newsome Road
12
Turn right onto Stokes Ferry Road
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Stokes Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Liberty Road
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Liberty Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 52
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 52
15
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Main Street
16
Turn left onto Old Salisbury Road
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Old Salisbury Road
17
Continue on Salisbury Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Salisbury Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 52 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North 1st Street
19
Turn right onto West Main Street
138 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 37.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
37.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76
Toward US 52 South: Salisbury, Albemarle
7
37.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 52
Keep slight left at fork onto US 52 toward US 52 South: Albermarle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 South: Albermarle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.35 | $22.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.29 | $24.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.66 | $29.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Albemarle, NC
Afternoon in Albemarle on Saturday
Local time
3:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Spencer, NC
33 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
6 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 28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that balances efficiency with local transitions, as the route is approximately 65% highway-focused. You will start with a fast-paced experience, covering your longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.5 miles along the John Gold Memorial Expressway. Once you transition away from the primary interstate sections of I-85, the character of the road shifts toward the more localized feel of Stokes Ferry Road. This mix keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous grind while still allowing you to make good time. By the end of the trip, you will move from the busier expressway environment into the more relaxed pace of the regional roads leading into Albemarle.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on John Gold Memorial Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John Gold Memorial Expressway and I 85. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.5 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.
About the Cities
Starting in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 66.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on John Gold Memorial Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Albemarle, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albemarle, NC before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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