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

The driving distance from Winston-Salem, NC to Wilson, NC is about 136.6 miles (219.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 17m 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
136.64 mi
02h 38m
Flight
127.12 mi
204.58 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
127.12 mi
Kilometers
204.58 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
136.64 mi
Kilometers
219.9 km
Drive Time
02h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilson
Thu, Apr 23, 4:56 AM EDT
Return by in Winston-Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 7:34 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Winston-Salem
2026-04-23T02:17
Arrive Wilson
Thu, Apr 23, 4:56 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 PM EDT

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

Leave by
1:12 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
Hickory
NC

The second-largest city in Catawba County, North Carolina.

From Winston-Salem
68.2 mi
01h 19m
To Wilson
68.4 mi
01h 19m

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
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    128.2 mi · 2 hr 25 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Swannanoa

    982 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Patton Cove Road

    743 ft · 23 sec · Patton Cove Road

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Buckeye Access Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Buckeye Access Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Buckeye Cove Road

    945 ft · 25 sec · Buckeye Cove Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Superior Way

    1125 ft · 48 sec · Superior Way

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Superior Way

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
128 mi · 94%
Salem Parkway
4.51 mi · 3%
Buckeye Access Road
1.52 mi · 1%
I 40
0.63 mi
North Main Street
0.35 mi
West 1st Street
0.22 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Merge slight left

128 mi · 02h 25m

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 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.5 mi
127.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hickory
01h 19m from Winston-Salem
Leave By
1:12 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Winston-Salem and Sunny near Wilson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 136.6 miles (219.9 km) and usually takes 02h 38m 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?

Hickory is a useful midpoint, sitting about 68.2 miles from Winston-Salem and 68.4 miles from Wilson.

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

The direct path is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.5 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 1:12 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.09 one way or $38.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hickory

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

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

RAIL

Gastonia

54 mi away
350 Hancock Street
RAIL

Kannapolis

70 mi away
201 South Main St.
RAIL

Charlotte

72 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Salisbury

80 mi away
Depot and Liberty Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Winston-Salem and Wilson. Straight-line distance: 127.12 mi (204.58 km).

Winston-Salem

#1 Winston-Salem

The fifth most populous city in North Carolina.

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

#2 Wilson

The most populous city in Wilson County, North Carolina.

Population49,479
Coordinates35.5940000, -82.4265100
Altitude682
CountryUnited States
Start: Winston-Salem (-80.24422, 36.09986)
End: Wilson (-82.42651, 35.594)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 220 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.82 gal
18.25 L · about $19.09
Round trip
$38.18
9.64 gal · 36.5 L
Estimated CO2
42.8 kg one way
Round trip: 85.7 kg / 189 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $19.09 $38.18
Mid-grade $4.43 $21.35 $42.70
Premium $4.78 $23.03 $46.06
Diesel $5.62 $27.11 $54.22

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 Wilson. The current time is 02:17:40.

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.