How far is Emerald Isle, NC from Winston-Salem, NC?

The driving distance from Emerald Isle, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is about 247.2 miles (397.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
247.23 mi
04h 16m
Flight
209.91 mi
337.81 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Emerald Isle.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
209.91 mi
Kilometers
337.81 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
247.23 mi
Kilometers
397.88 km
Drive Time
04h 16m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Winston-Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM EDT
Return by in Emerald Isle
Thu, Apr 23, 4:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Emerald Isle
2026-04-22T20:22
Arrive Winston-Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:17 AM to 12:17 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Emerald Isle
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Wilsons Mills
NC

Park in the United States of America

From Emerald Isle
128 mi
02h 08m
To Winston-Salem
119.2 mi
02h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Emerald Isle Weather
NC
Live fallback forecast
79°F
Wednesday
Using Piney Green as the closest live forecast in the North Carolina weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Emerald Isle and Winston-Salem.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Emerald Isle and Winston-Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on Emerald Drive

    5.9 mi · 10 min · Emerald Drive

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Emerald Drive

    25 m · 2 sec · Emerald Drive

  3. 3

    Exit the rotary onto Emerald Drive

    20.8 mi · 31 min · Emerald Drive

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    16.7 mi · 19 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    26.9 mi · 30 min

  7. 7

    Continue on West New Bern Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West New Bern Road

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on West New Bern Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West New Bern Road

  9. 9

    Continue on West Vernon Avenue

    1.6 mi · 2 min · West Vernon Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    9.6 mi · 11 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Goldsboro Bypass

    20.2 mi · 22 min · Goldsboro Bypass

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    10.4 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    10.1 mi · 13 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

    10 mi · 11 min · Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    82.1 mi · 1 hr 35 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    7.7 mi · 9 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Salem Parkway

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Salem Parkway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Main Street

    1174 ft · 29 sec

  22. 22

    Turn slight right onto South Main Street

    2161 ft · 44 sec · South Main Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Emerald Isle and Winston-Salem.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
112 mi · 45%
Main Street
45.1 mi · 18%
Goldsboro Bypass
43.8 mi · 18%
Emerald Drive
26.8 mi · 11%
Salem Parkway
13.4 mi · 5%
West Vernon Avenue
11.2 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway

Merge slight left

82.1 mi · 01h 35m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.3 mi
209.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wilsons Mills
02h 08m from Emerald Isle
Leave By
8:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Emerald Isle and Sunny near Winston-Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Emerald Isle to Winston-Salem?

The road trip is about 247.2 miles (397.9 km) and usually takes 04h 16m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wilsons Mills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128 miles from Emerald Isle and 119.2 miles from Winston-Salem.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.54 one way or $69.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Emerald Isle and Sunny near Winston-Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Wilsons Mills

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wilsons Mills, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wilsons Mills.

RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

9 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

34 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street
RAIL

North Carolina State Fair station

39 mi away
1025 Blue Ridge Blvd.
BUS

Goldsboro, NC

42 mi away
1615 East Beech Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Emerald Isle and Winston-Salem. Straight-line distance: 209.91 mi (337.81 km).

Emerald Isle

#1 Emerald Isle

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population3,676
Coordinates34.6779400, -76.9507800
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Winston-Salem

#2 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

Population248,112
Coordinates36.0998600, -80.2442200
Altitude293
CountryUnited States
Start: Emerald Drive (-76.950751, 34.677814)
End: North Main Street (-80.244255, 36.099856)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 398 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.72 gal
33.02 L · about $34.54
Round trip
$69.08
17.44 gal · 66.04 L
Estimated CO2
77.5 kg one way
Round trip: 155 kg / 342 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $34.54 $69.08
Mid-grade $4.43 $38.62 $77.24
Premium $4.78 $41.66 $83.33
Diesel $5.62 $49.04 $98.08

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Emerald Isle and Winston-Salem. The current time is 20:22:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.