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

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Elizabeth City, NC is about 102.6 miles (165.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.5 miles (144 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 28m 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
102.6 mi
02h 14m
Flight
89.46 mi
143.98 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
89.46 mi
Kilometers
143.98 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102.6 mi
Kilometers
165.12 km
Drive Time
02h 14m

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 02h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 4:13 AM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Sun, Apr 19, 6:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-19T01:59
Arrive Elizabeth City
Sun, Apr 19, 4:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:14 AM to 12:14 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:02 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
Catawba
NC

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

From Winston-Salem
51.3 mi
01h 07m
To Elizabeth City
51.3 mi
01h 07m

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
69°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW

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

    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

    54.3 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Rock Barn Road

    767 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Rockbarn Road

    152 m · 9 sec · Rockbarn Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Rock Barn Road Northeast

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Rock Barn Road Northeast

  12. 12

    Continue on Rockbarn Road

    2094 ft · 40 sec · Rockbarn Road

  13. 13

    Continue on 7th Avenue Northeast

    2417 ft · 46 sec · 7th Avenue Northeast

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Northwest Boulevard

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Northwest Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Rome Jones Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Rome Jones Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Sigmon Dairy Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Sigmon Dairy Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Maiden Road

    2657 ft · 55 sec · West Maiden Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Startown Road

    1541 ft · 30 sec · Startown Road

  20. 20

    Take the ramp left

    1126 ft · 28 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    8.2 mi · 10 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 27, NC 150: Lincolnton

    1487 ft · 36 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto East Main Street

    2777 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Generals Boulevard

    9.7 mi · 14 min · South Generals Boulevard

  25. 25

    Continue on East Church Street

    2.3 mi · 5 min · East Church Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Shelby Highway

    3154 ft · 1 min · Shelby Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Cherryville Road

    6.7 mi · 10 min · Cherryville Road

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Cherryville Road

    134 m · 6 sec · Cherryville Road

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Post Road

    70 m · 3 sec · North Post Road

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto North Post Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North Post Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Crystal Lane

    129 m · 19 sec · Crystal Lane

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Crystal Lane

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
32 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
31.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
54.6 mi · 53%
South Generals Boulevard
9.67 mi · 9%
Startown Road
8.75 mi · 9%
Cherryville Road
6.78 mi · 7%
Northwest Boulevard
4.95 mi · 5%
Salem Parkway
4.51 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Merge slight left

54.3 mi · 01h 01m

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
02h 14m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.1 mi
89.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Catawba
01h 07m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
2:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Winston-Salem and Chance Rain Showers 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 102.6 miles (165.1 km) and usually takes 02h 14m 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?

Catawba is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.3 miles from Winston-Salem and 51.3 miles from Elizabeth City.

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

The direct path is about 89.5 miles (144 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.1 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 2:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.34 one way or $28.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Catawba

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

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

RAIL

Kannapolis

47 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Gastonia

49 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Salisbury

56 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.
RAIL

Charlotte

57 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City. Straight-line distance: 89.46 mi (143.98 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

Population17,751
Coordinates35.2929100, -81.4912000
Altitude284
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Elizabeth City (-81.4912, 35.29291)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 165 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.62 gal
13.7 L · about $14.34
Round trip
$28.68
7.24 gal · 27.4 L
Estimated CO2
32.2 kg one way
Round trip: 64.3 kg / 142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.34 $28.68
Mid-grade $4.43 $16.03 $32.07
Premium $4.78 $17.30 $34.59
Diesel $5.62 $20.36 $40.72

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 01:59:48.

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.