Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC drive are Greensboro NC, Burlington NC and Durham NC. The distance from Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC by car is 103 miles, with a 1h37m driving time.

Finding things to do between Winston-Salem NC and Raleigh NC

The Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC drive connects two of the most likeable cities in North Carolina.

Winston-Salem NC is the birthplace of both Camel cigarettes and Krispy Kreme. The top attraction is the Old Salem Museums and Gardens, which brings together several topics across a series of preserved buildings. Wander the site, and you’ll move from decorative arts to indigenous peoples to Moravian settlers.

Other attractions include the Reynolda Museum of American Art in a handsome mansion and Historic Bethabara Park. The latter is the site of the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina.

You can also go on a guided ghost tour.

For Winston-Salem accommodation with a bit of personality, try the Kimpton Cardinal or Historic Brookstown Inn.

Raleigh NC offers a series of high quality museums. The North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina Museum of Art are the three big-hitters. Meanwhile, the Mordecai Historic Park is where you’ll find Raleigh’s oldest house and the William B Umstead State Park is the top spot for outdoorsy pursuits.

Top Raleigh activities include trolley pub tours and ghost tours.

For Raleigh accommodation, the Marriott is the prime address downtown and the Store is a gorgeous guesthouse.

Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC is 103 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 37 minutes. The quickest route is largely along the I-40.

The best stops to add to a Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC road trip itinerary are Greensboro NC, Burlington NC and Durham NC.

Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC drive: Greensboro NC

Greensboro NC has a handful of strong cultural attractions. The first port of call should be the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which houses the original FW Woolworth’s lunch counter. This was where four college freshmen staged a sit-in at the whites-only venue – a key moment of non-violent direct action in the Civil Rights struggle.

There are more backstories at the Greensboro History Museum, and the Guildford Courthouse National Military Park focuses on a Revolutionary War turning point.

For the best Greensboro accommodation deals, search here.

Best stops between Winston-Salem NC and Raleigh NC: Burlington NC

Burlington City Park offers old-fashioned amusements for kids, such as a miniature train and a handful of rides. The Children’s Museum of Alamance County is a decent bet for learning through play, too.

Elsewhere in Burlington NC, the Textile Heritage Museum by the Haw River shows off a well-preserved 19^th century textile mill village.

Winston-Salem NC to Raleigh NC road trip attractions: Durham NC

Durham NC is a big tech research center, and home to Duke University. The latter is home to the Nasher Museum of Art and the soaring Gothic Duke Chapel.

Nature-lovers can go walking through the Sarah P Duke Gardens and take a tour of the Duke Lemur Center. The biggest crowd-pleaser, however, is the Museum of Life and Science. There are several sections to this, both indoor and outdoor. It’s mainly button-pushing, kid-friendly science indoors and black bears, butterflies and red wolves outside.

The best-rated Durham NC accommodation options are the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club and the Hampton Inn and Suites at the University Medical Center.