How far is Fayetteville, NC from Salem, NC?

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Salem, NC is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165 miles (265.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 31m 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
209.87 mi
04h 15m
Flight
164.94 mi
265.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.94 mi
Kilometers
265.45 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.87 mi
Kilometers
337.76 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Sat, May 30, 11:34 PM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Sun, May 31, 3:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-05-30T19:19
Arrive Salem
Sat, May 30, 11:34 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 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
8:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
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
Kernersville
NC

City in North Carolina, United States of America

From Fayetteville
104.9 mi
02h 07m
To Salem
105 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM EDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
81°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
1 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fayetteville and Salem.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville and Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    15 m · 2 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Hay Street

    2667 ft · 51 sec · Hay Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Bragg Boulevard

    1970 ft · 52 sec · Bragg Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Murchison Road

    8.6 mi · 13 min · Murchison Road

  5. 5

    Continue on South Bragg Boulevard

    2475 ft · 49 sec · South Bragg Boulevard

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on North Bragg Boulevard

    20.9 mi · 30 min · North Bragg Boulevard

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Sanford Bypass

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Sanford Bypass

  8. 8

    Continue on Boone Trail Road

    2156 ft · 29 sec · Boone Trail Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Isaac Brooks Highway

    43.4 mi · 53 min · Isaac Brooks Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

    1107 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Greensboro Urban Loop

    6.7 mi · 7 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem

    5.8 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

    101.9 mi · 1 hr 56 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Enola Road

    1733 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Enola Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Enola Road

  18. 18

    Turn sharp right onto Pete Brittain Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Pete Brittain Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pete Brittain Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fayetteville and Salem.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
108 mi · 51%
Isaac Brooks Highway
43.4 mi · 21%
North Bragg Boulevard
20.9 mi · 10%
Sanford Bypass
12.1 mi · 6%
Greensboro Urban Loop
11.5 mi · 5%
Murchison Road
8.61 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

102 mi · 01h 56m

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.9 mi
165 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kernersville
02h 07m from Fayetteville
Leave By
8:28 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Fayetteville and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fayetteville to Salem?

The road trip is about 209.9 miles (337.8 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Kernersville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.9 miles from Fayetteville and 105 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 165 miles (265.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.9 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 8:28 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.31 one way or $58.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Fayetteville and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Kernersville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kernersville, 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 Kernersville.

BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

14 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

16 mi away
100 West 5th Street
RAIL

High Point

19 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

23 mi away
236 East Washington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Salem. Straight-line distance: 164.94 mi (265.45 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Salem

Township in Burke County, North Carolina

Population2,218
Coordinates35.6987400, -81.6970400
Altitude371
CountryUnited States
Start: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Salem (-81.69704, 35.69874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.4 gal
28.03 L · about $29.31
Round trip
$58.62
14.8 gal · 56.06 L
Estimated CO2
65.8 kg one way
Round trip: 131.5 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.31 $58.62
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.77 $65.55
Premium $4.78 $35.36 $70.71
Diesel $5.62 $41.62 $83.24

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 · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Fayetteville and Salem. The current time is 19:19:22.

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.