How far is Winston-Salem, NC from Elizabeth City, NC?

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 267.8 miles (431 km), with a travel time of about 05h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 223 miles (358.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 30m 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
267.83 mi
05h 15m
Flight
223.04 mi
358.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Winston-Salem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
223.04 mi
Kilometers
358.95 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
267.83 mi
Kilometers
431.03 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 12:07 PM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Sun, Apr 19, 5:22 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-19T06:52
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 12:07 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:15 AM to 1:15 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
6:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Winston-Salem
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Spring Hope
NC

City in Nash County, North Carolina, United States of America

From Winston-Salem
133.8 mi
02h 37m
To Elizabeth City
134.1 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    2610 ft · 59 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp sharp left toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East

    917 ft · 22 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Salem Parkway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Salem Parkway

    16 mi · 19 min · Salem Parkway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Greensboro, Martinsville

    7.8 mi · 10 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight right

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    36.8 mi · 43 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Raleigh

    30.3 mi · 35 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Wade Avenue

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Wade Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left toward I 440 East, US 1 North: Wake Forest

    2664 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 87 North, US 64 East, US 264 East: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Greenville

    1.2 km · 58 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    16.8 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    80 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    4.5 mi · 6 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    35.4 mi · 44 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    5.1 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Providence Road

    783 ft · 34 sec · Providence Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Providence Road

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 North
159 mi · 59%
I 40 East
76.6 mi · 29%
Salem Parkway
18.4 mi · 7%
I 440 East
9.7 mi · 4%
Wade Avenue
3.1 mi · 1%
North Main Street
0.49 mi
Longest Stretch

I 87 North

Keep slight left

80 mi · 01h 27m

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
05h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.8 mi
223 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spring Hope
02h 37m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
6:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Winston-Salem and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 267.8 miles (431 km) and usually takes 05h 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?

Spring Hope is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133.8 miles from Winston-Salem and 134.1 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 223 miles (358.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.8 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 6:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.43 one way or $74.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Winston-Salem and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Elizabeth City.

Stop Ideas Near Spring Hope

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

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

RAIL

Rocky Mount

28 mi away
101 Hammond Street
RAIL

Wilson

31 mi away
401 East Nash Street
RAIL

Selma–Smithfield

48 mi away
500 East Railroad Street
RAIL

Raleigh Union Station

52 mi away
320 West Cabarrus Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 223.04 mi (358.95 km).

Winston-Salem

#1 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

Population248,112
Coordinates36.0998600, -80.2442200
Altitude293
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth City

#2 Elizabeth City

City in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina

Population17,988
Coordinates36.2946000, -76.2510500
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Elizabeth City (-76.25105, 36.2946)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 431 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.45 gal
35.78 L · about $37.43
Round trip
$74.86
18.9 gal · 71.56 L
Estimated CO2
84 kg one way
Round trip: 168 kg / 370 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $37.43 $74.86
Mid-grade $4.43 $41.85 $83.71
Premium $4.78 $45.15 $90.30
Diesel $5.62 $53.15 $106.29

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City. The current time is 06:52:11.

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.