How far is Winston-Salem, NC from Horse Shoe, NC?

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Horse Shoe, NC is about 159.9 miles (257.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.9 miles (225.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 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
159.9 mi
03h 15m
Flight
139.84 mi
225.05 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
139.84 mi
Kilometers
225.05 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
159.9 mi
Kilometers
257.33 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Horse Shoe
Sun, Apr 19, 3:03 AM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Sun, Apr 19, 6:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-18T23:48
Arrive Horse Shoe
Sun, Apr 19, 3:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 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
10:30 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

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
Connelly Springs
NC

Town in North Carolina

From Winston-Salem
79.8 mi
01h 37m
To Horse Shoe
80 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
93°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph W
Destination
87°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem and Horse Shoe.

  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

    134 mi · 2 hr 32 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25 Alternate: Asheville

    1399 ft · 42 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Sweeten Creek Road

    7 mi · 12 min · Sweeten Creek Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Airport Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Airport Road

  13. 13

    Continue on New Airport Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · New Airport Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Boylston Highway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Boylston Highway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Haywood Road

    1868 ft · 37 sec · Haywood Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Banner Farm Road

    3.6 mi · 9 min · Banner Farm Road

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Banner Farm Road

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
136 mi · 85%
Sweeten Creek Road
6.97 mi · 4%
Salem Parkway
4.51 mi · 3%
Boylston Highway
4.12 mi · 3%
Banner Farm Road
3.58 mi · 2%
Airport Road
1.77 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Merge slight left

134 mi · 02h 32m

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20 mi
139.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Connelly Springs
01h 37m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
10:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Winston-Salem and Mostly Sunny near Horse Shoe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 159.9 miles (257.3 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Connelly Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.8 miles from Winston-Salem and 80 miles from Horse Shoe.

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

The direct path is about 139.9 miles (225.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 20 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 10:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.34 one way or $44.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Connelly Springs

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

62 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Charlotte

84 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Kannapolis

85 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Salisbury

96 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Horse Shoe. Straight-line distance: 139.84 mi (225.05 km).

Winston-Salem

#1 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

Population248,112
Coordinates36.0998600, -80.2442200
Altitude293
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Horse Shoe

Township in Henderson County, North Carolina

Population2,351
Coordinates35.3431700, -82.5565100
Altitude637
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Horse Shoe (-82.55651, 35.34317)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 257 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.64 gal
21.36 L · about $22.34
Round trip
$44.68
11.28 gal · 42.72 L
Estimated CO2
50.1 kg one way
Round trip: 100.2 kg / 221 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.34 $44.68
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.98 $49.96
Premium $4.78 $26.95 $53.90
Diesel $5.62 $31.72 $63.44

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 Horse Shoe. The current time is 23:48:05.

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.