Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Morning in Winston-Salem on Saturday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
139.3 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Lure, NC
Niki Clark
Trip Overview
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC covers 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 1st Street, Marshall Street South, US 158 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 139.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 139.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 1st Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC is easy. At 2h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 1st Street | — | — |
| Marshall Street South | — | — |
| US 158 West | — | — |
| Salem Parkway | — | — |
| I 40 | — | — |
| I 40 West | — | — |
| US 221 | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and Lake Lure, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 1st Street
3
Turn left onto Marshall Street South
302 ft
·
5 sec
·
Marshall Street South
4
Take the ramp slight right toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West
5
Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Parkway
6
Take the exit slight left toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 40: Greensboro, Statesville
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Statesville
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 40 West: Statesville
8
Merge slight left
102 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 221: Marion, Rutherfordton
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 221: Marion, Rutherfordton
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Main Street
11
Continue on US 221
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 221
12
Turn right onto Mud Cut Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Mud Cut Road
13
At the end of the road, turn left onto Sugar Hill Road
459 ft
·
7 sec
·
Sugar Hill Road
14
Continue on Montford Cove Road
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Montford Cove Road
15
Continue on Cove Road
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Cove Road
16
Turn right onto Freeman Town Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Freeman Town Road
17
Keep slight left to continue on McEntire Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
McEntire Road
18
At the end of the road, turn right onto McEntire Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McEntire Road
19
Turn right onto Chimney Rock Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Chimney Rock Road
20
Continue on Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Highway
21
Turn right onto Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Highway
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Lure, 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 139.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.6 mi from Winston-Salem, NC · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.6 miles from Winston-Salem, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Lure, NC
The final approach into Lake Lure, NC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lake Lure, NC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.78 one way
$43.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.82 | $47.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.78 | $51.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.76 | $61.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.63 | $6.69 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.19 | $5.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.50 | $8.92 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Lake Lure, NC
Morning in Lake Lure on Saturday
Local time
10:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 54m 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 Lake Lure, NC covers 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 1st Street, Marshall Street South, US 158 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.6 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 $21.78 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC is easy. At 2h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Winston-Salem, NC to Lake Lure, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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