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

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Wilkesboro, NC is about 54.9 miles (88.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.3 miles (82.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 11m 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
54.92 mi
01h 05m
Flight
51.24 mi
82.47 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
51.24 mi
Kilometers
82.47 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
54.92 mi
Kilometers
88.38 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilkesboro
Sun, Apr 19, 8:42 AM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Sun, Apr 19, 9:48 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-19T07:37
Arrive Wilkesboro
Sun, Apr 19, 8:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:18 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
Yadkinville
NC

Town in North Carolina, United States

From Winston-Salem
27.4 mi
00h 32m
To Wilkesboro
27.5 mi
00h 32m

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
72°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    53.3 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Salem Parkway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 16 South, NC 18: Wilkesboro, Taylorsville, Lenoir

    1005 ft · 25 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Cherry Street

    3217 ft · 58 sec · South Cherry Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    58 m · 5 sec · West Main Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Salem Parkway
53.3 mi · 97%
South Cherry Street
0.61 mi · 1%
North Main Street
0.35 mi · 1%
West 1st Street
0.22 mi
NC 16 South
0.19 mi
US 158 West
0.15 mi
Longest Stretch

Salem Parkway

Merge slight left onto Salem Parkway

53.3 mi · 01h 03m

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 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
51.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Yadkinville
00h 32m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
4:18 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Winston-Salem and Chance Rain Showers near Wilkesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 54.9 miles (88.4 km) and usually takes 01h 05m 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?

Yadkinville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.4 miles from Winston-Salem and 27.5 miles from Wilkesboro.

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

The direct path is about 51.3 miles (82.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 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 4:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.68 one way or $15.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Yadkinville

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

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

BUS

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

37 mi away
100 West 5th Street
BUS

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

39 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr
RAIL

Lexington

51 mi away
Center St. and railroad tracks
RAIL

Salisbury

54 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Wilkesboro. Straight-line distance: 51.24 mi (82.47 km).

Winston-Salem

#1 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

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

#2 Wilkesboro

Town in and the county seat of Wilkes County, North Carolina

Population3,430
Coordinates36.1459600, -81.1606400
Altitude312
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Wilkesboro (-81.16064, 36.14596)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 88 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.94 gal
7.34 L · about $7.68
Round trip
$15.37
3.88 gal · 14.68 L
Estimated CO2
17.2 kg one way
Round trip: 34.5 kg / 76 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.68 $15.37
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.59 $17.18
Premium $4.78 $9.27 $18.54
Diesel $5.62 $10.91 $21.82

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 Wilkesboro. The current time is 07:37:11.

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.