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

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Cornelius, NC is about 65.6 miles (105.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.6 miles (87.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
65.6 mi
01h 19m
Flight
54.64 mi
87.93 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Winston-Salem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.64 mi
Kilometers
87.93 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
65.6 mi
Kilometers
105.58 km
Drive Time
01h 19m

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 01h 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cornelius
Thu, Apr 23, 7:13 AM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 8:33 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-23T05:53
Arrive Cornelius
Thu, Apr 23, 7:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Winston-Salem
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Harmony
NC

Town in north Carolina

From Winston-Salem
32.8 mi
00h 39m
To Cornelius
32.8 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    1848 ft · 41 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    1168 ft · 31 sec · West 1st Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Marshall Street South

    92 m · 5 sec · Marshall Street South

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 158 West, US 421 North, NC 150 West

    804 ft · 20 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Salem Parkway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 40: Greensboro, Statesville

    1 km · 44 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Statesville

    1505 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    34.3 mi · 38 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 77 North, I 77 South: Wytheville, Charlotte

    2158 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 77 South: Charlotte

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    16.2 mi · 19 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I-77 South

    1054 ft · 14 sec · I-77 South

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 21 South: Catawba Avenue, Lake Norman, Cornelius

    921 ft · 23 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 21 South: Cornelius

    50 m · 8 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West Catawba Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Catawba Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Church Street

    1841 ft · 1 min · Church Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Legion Street

    124 m · 18 sec · Legion Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Legion Street

Car Route Details

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

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
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
34.6 mi · 53%
I 77 South
23.1 mi · 35%
Salem Parkway
4.51 mi · 7%
West Catawba Avenue
0.74 mi · 1%
I 40
0.63 mi · 1%
I 77 North
0.41 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Merge slight left

34.3 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 19m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11 mi
54.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harmony
00h 39m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
3:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Winston-Salem and Sunny near Cornelius.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 65.6 miles (105.6 km) and usually takes 01h 19m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Harmony is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.8 miles from Winston-Salem and 32.8 miles from Cornelius.

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

The direct path is about 54.6 miles (87.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 11 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.15 one way or $18.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Harmony

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

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

RAIL

Salisbury

42 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Lexington

49 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

50 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

51 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Cornelius. Straight-line distance: 54.64 mi (87.93 km).

Winston-Salem

#1 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

Population248,112
Coordinates36.0998600, -80.2442200
Altitude293
CountryUnited States
Cornelius

#2 Cornelius

City in North Carolina, United States

Population30,804
Coordinates35.4868000, -80.8600700
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Cornelius (-80.86007, 35.4868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 106 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.31 gal
8.76 L · about $9.15
Round trip
$18.30
4.62 gal · 17.52 L
Estimated CO2
20.5 kg one way
Round trip: 41.1 kg / 91 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $9.15 $18.30
Mid-grade $4.43 $10.23 $20.46
Premium $4.78 $11.04 $22.07
Diesel $5.62 $12.99 $25.98

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 Winston-Salem and Cornelius. The current time is 05:53:54.

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.