Trip from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

221.6 mi

357 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 30m ★

6 AM

3h 43m

8 AM

4h 8m

10 AM

3h 51m

12 PM

3h 49m

3 PM

3h 53m

5 PM

4h 6m

8 PM

3h 35m

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

Traveling from the coast to the Piedmont region, this 221.6-mile trip links Wrightsville Beach to Winston-Salem in approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes. Because the route is relatively straightforward, it functions perfectly as a single-day journey, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $35 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire trip. Navigating through the Southeast, you will transition from the immediate coastal environment into the heart of North Carolina. It is a practical drive that allows you to move between two distinct areas of the state without the stress of an exhausting multi-day trek.

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

110.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. Your journey begins on local thoroughfares like Wrightsville Avenue, Eastwood Road, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, which demand your full attention behind the wheel. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Wrightsville Avenue, you should prepare for frequent turns and constant adjustments rather than long, straight highway miles. This personality makes for a more engaged driving experience that requires you to stay alert through the various segments of the trip. The road feels intimate and local, keeping you involved with the immediate surroundings throughout the entire 221.6-mile duration.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Wrightsville Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Wrightsville Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Eastwood Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
North College Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Michael Jordan Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Salem Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Wrightsville Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Causeway Drive

1.1 mi · 2 min · Causeway Drive

2

Continue on Wrightsville Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Wrightsville Avenue

3

Continue on Eastwood Road

3.5 mi · 6 min · Eastwood Road

4

Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Jr Parkway

5

Turn right onto North College Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · North College Road

6

Continue on Michael Jordan Highway

107 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Michael Jordan Highway

7

Keep slight left

86 mi · 1 hr 38 min

8

Keep slight right

7.7 mi · 9 min

9

Keep slight right

13 mi · 15 min

10

Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway

13 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway

11

Take the exit slight right toward Main Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Main Street

12

Turn slight right onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South Main Street

13

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue, especially given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads. Keep your $35 fuel budget in mind and consider topping off your tank before departing Wrightsville Beach to ensure a smooth transition between local roads. Because you are navigating local streets rather than major interstates, pay close attention to your navigation system to avoid missing turns along the way. Planning for a single, well-timed break will help you stay fresh and focused as you make your way toward Winston-Salem.

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 110.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC, or about 1h 51m 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 80 miles or 1h 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 110.8 miles or 1h 51m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winston-Salem, NC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wrightsville Beach, 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 Wrightsville Beach, NC

This is one driving day of about 221.6 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wrightsville Beach, 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 110.8 mi from Wrightsville Beach, NC · 1h 51m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alamance, NC

111 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

Angier, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alamance, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Winston-Salem, NC

The final approach into Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, 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

$35.46 one way

$70.93 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$38.64	$77.28
premium	$4.78	$41.69	$83.37
diesel	$5.64	$49.23	$98.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	66.5	0	$23.27	$10.64
Efficient EV	55.4	0	$19.39	$8.86
EV Truck/SUV	88.6	1	$31.02	$14.18

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Afternoon in Wrightsville Beach on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winston-Salem, NC

Afternoon in Winston-Salem on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°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

11 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

3h 42m 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 Wrightsville Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC covers 221.6 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Wrightsville Avenue, Eastwood Road, Martin Luther King Jr Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 110.8 miles from Wrightsville Beach, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.46 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Wrightsville Beach, NC to Winston-Salem, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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