How far is Sylva, NC from Winston-Salem, NC?

The driving distance from Sylva, NC to Winston-Salem, NC is about 190.5 miles (306.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.6 miles (281 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m 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
190.46 mi
03h 03m
Flight
174.58 mi
280.96 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sylva.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.58 mi
Kilometers
280.96 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.46 mi
Kilometers
306.52 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

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 03h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Winston-Salem
Wed, Apr 15, 1:31 PM EDT
Return by in Sylva
Wed, Apr 15, 4:35 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sylva
2026-04-15T10:27
Arrive Winston-Salem
Wed, Apr 15, 1:31 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sylva
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
Glen Alpine
NC

Town of the United States

From Sylva
95.1 mi
01h 32m
To Winston-Salem
95.3 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
90°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sylva and Winston-Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    6 m · 8 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Grindstaff Cove Road

    2781 ft · 1 min · Grindstaff Cove Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight

    1622 ft · 40 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

    23.3 mi · 30 min · Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Asheville

    160.4 mi · 3 hr 5 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward US 421 South: Salem Parkway

    2800 ft · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Salem Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Marshall Street, TO Cherry Street

    582 ft · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on High Street Southwest

    140 m · 15 sec · High Street Southwest

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Cherry Street South

    1223 ft · 27 sec · Cherry Street South

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West 2nd Street

    901 ft · 25 sec · West 2nd Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1314 ft · 26 sec · North Main Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sylva and Winston-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
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
160 mi · 84%
Great Smoky Mountains Expressway
23.3 mi · 12%
Salem Parkway
4.67 mi · 2%
Grindstaff Cove Road
0.83 mi
US 421 South
0.53 mi
North Main Street
0.25 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Asheville

160 mi · 03h 05m

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
03h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.9 mi
174.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glen Alpine
01h 32m from Sylva
Leave By
10:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sylva 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 Sylva to Winston-Salem?

The road trip is about 190.5 miles (306.5 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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?

Glen Alpine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.1 miles from Sylva and 95.3 miles from Winston-Salem.

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

The direct path is about 174.6 miles (281 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.9 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 10:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.62 one way or $53.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sylva and Sunny near Winston-Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Glen Alpine

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

76 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Spartanburg

87 mi away
290 Magnolia St
RAIL

Charlotte

102 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

108 mi away
201 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sylva and Winston-Salem. Straight-line distance: 174.58 mi (280.96 km).

Sylva

#1 Sylva

Human settlement in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States of America

Population2,739
Coordinates35.3737100, -83.2259800
Altitude623
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: West Main Street (-83.225979, 35.373725)
End: North Main Street (-80.244255, 36.099856)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 307 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.72 gal
25.44 L · about $26.62
Round trip
$53.24
13.44 gal · 50.88 L
Estimated CO2
59.7 kg one way
Round trip: 119.4 kg / 263 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.62 $53.24
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.76 $59.53
Premium $4.78 $32.11 $64.22
Diesel $5.62 $37.79 $75.59

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Sylva and Winston-Salem. The current time is 10:27:59.

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.