If you need a short break from Winston-Salem, there are plenty of great day trips from Winston-Salem you can do.
Whether you want to visit a large city or a college town, there’s a lot to explore within a few hours from Winston-Salem. From going to museums to having great food to seeing nature, there’s a lot you can do during a day trip from the city. And even though Winston-Salem is an amazing city that has a lot to offer, it’s definitely fun to explore the places nearby!
This guide covers all the best Winston-Salem day trips that you should definitely consider.
Day Trips from Winston-Salem
Charlotte, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 1.5 hours
A city to visit is Charlotte. From Winston-Salem, you can get to Charlotte by car in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, is a city with a huge number of fun activities and things to see.
For example, you can go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and learn about the NASCAR.
Or you can check out Discovery Place Science and learn about science through various interesting exhibits.
Going to Carowinds is also one of the best things to do in Charlotte. This is an amusement park with roller coasters and many other attractions.
Besides that, you go to the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and see a show or you can see a baseball game at Truist Field.
Lynchburg, VA
Distance Winston-Salem: 2.5 hours
Want to get out of the state of North Carolina? Then, you can do a day trip from Winston-Salem to Lynchburg in Virginia.
By car, you can reach the city in about 2.5 hours.
The city of Lynchburg is a very old city that is known for its many historic sights. There are many historic buildings that are worth checking out such as the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum.
You can also check out SeaQuest Lynchburg and learn about marine life when you do this day trip.
Or you can go to the Academy Center of the Arts and see a great performing arts show!
Greensboro, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 30 minutes
Located only about 30 minutes from Winston-Salem is the city of Greensboro. If you want to have a great day and don’t want to travel far, you should definitely consider Greensboro.
The city is home to many fun and interesting sights.
For example, one of the best things to do in Greensboro is to go to the Greensboro Science Center to learn about dinosaurs and a variety of other topics.
The Greensboro History Museum is another interesting museum to visit and it is a great place to learn about the city.
Want to see art? Then, you can go to the Weatherspoon Art Museum during this day trip.
Then there are all the beautiful parks that you could check out, such as the Greensboro Arboretum, LeBauer Park, and the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden!
Also, you can see a show at the Carolina Theatre and have a great time.
Raleigh, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 2 hours
A visit to the capital city of North Carolina can be great as a day trip as well. Raleigh can be reached by car from Winston-Salem in about 2 hours.
There are a lot of great things to do in Raleigh. For example, there are many very good museums in the city, such as the North Carolina Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Moreover, there are many great things to do in Raleigh with kids. For example, you can go to the Marbles Kids Museum.
Besides that, you could attend a sporting event or a concert at the PNC Arena.
Also, if you want to have dinner in the city, you can go to the Morgan Street Food Hall. This is a food hall with many different local restaurants and eateries.
Columbia, SC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 3 hours
You can get to the city of Columbia in South Carolina in about 3 hours from Winston-Salem.
The capital of South Carolina is home to many historic buildings and you can find great examples of Greek Revival architecture in the city.
One of the best places to check out in Columbia is the Columbia Museum of Art.
Also, you can go for a relaxing walk at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden and check out amazing animals.
If you want to learn about the state, you can go to the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.
You should also not miss out on the Soda City Market. This is a weekly outdoor market that is great for a stroll and for shopping.
Asheville, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 2.5 hours
You can also consider doing a day trip from Winston-Salem to the city of Asheville. From Winston-Salem, you can reach this city by car in about 2.5 hours.
There are a lot of things to do in Asheville. For example, there are many good art galleries where you can see great contemporary works of art.
Also, you can check out Biltmore, a very large mansion and estate with beautiful architecture.
You can also find great museums in Asheville such as the Asheville Museum of Science and the Asheville Pinball Museum.
Do you want to see nature? That’s also possible in Asheville. For this, you can go to the North Carolina Arboretum or the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.
Blacksburg, VA
Distance from Winston-Salem: 2 hours
Blacksburg, VA is a wonderful college town that is home to Virginia Tech. By car, you can reach the town of Blacksburg in about 2 hours.
In Blacksburg, you can go to the Moss Arts Center to see a great performing arts show.
You can also check out the Hahn Horticulture Garden. This is a place with beautiful nature.
Furthermore, the Lyric Theatre is a lovely theater for a show.
Fayetteville, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 2 hours
Fayetteville is also one of the best Winston-Salem day trips. You can get to Fayetteville in a bit more than 2 hours.
Fayetteville is a lovely city with interesting historic buildings in its city center.
Furthermore, there are many interesting museums that relate to the U.S. Army in Fayetteville and the nearby Fort Liberty. For example, you can find the Airborne & Special Operations Museum here.
There are also other interesting museums in Fayetteville, such as the Museum of the Cape Fear and the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum.
Besides that, one of the best things to do in Fayetteville is to go to the Crown Complex, which is a complex that consists of 5 different venues. You can see great shows and performances here.
Also, you can go to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and see beautiful nature there.
Durham, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 1.5 hours
Durham is only 1.5 hours away from Winston-Salem, so it is a perfect city for a day trip.
There are many interesting things to do in Durham.
For example, you can go to the Duke Lemur Center or go for a walk at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
Also, you can check out the Museum of Life and Science.
If you want to see art during this day trip, you can go to the Nasher Museum of Art.
And if you want to enjoy a show, you can check out the Durham Performing Arts Center or The Carolina Theatre!
Roanoke, VA
Distance from Winston-Salem: 2 hours
Roanoke in Virginia is a lovely city in the Blue Ridge Mountains. From Winston-Salem, you can get to Roanoke by car in about 2 hours.
When you are in the city, you can go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation to learn about all kinds of vehicles, including trains.
Or you can check out the Taubman Museum of Art and see a great collection of art.
Also, you should not forget to visit the Science Museum of Western Virginia. This is an interesting museum for the whole family where you can find many interactive and immersive exhibits.
Want to have fun? Then, you can play games at the Roanoke Pinball Museum.
You can also go to the Mill Mountain Zoo to see animals.
Hickory, NC
Distance from Winston-Salem: 1.5 hours
The city of Hickory, NC, reachable by car from Winston-Salem in about 1.5 hours, is a wonderful destination for a day trip.
The things to do in Hickory can be great to explore during a day trip.
For example, one of the best things to do in Hickory is to go to the Hickory Museum of Art and see beautiful works of art.
Or you can go to the Hickory Aviation Museum and learn about local aviation history.
The Catawba Science Center can be great to check out as well if you want to learn about science.
Richmond, VA
Distance from Winston-Salem: 3.5 hours
It takes about 3.5 hours to get from Winston-Salem to the city of Richmond in Virginia.
Richmond, VA is a large city and there are many great things to do in the city making it one of the best day trips from Winston-Salem.
When you are in Richmond, there are many interesting historic buildings that you can check out. For example, you can check out the Virginia State Capitol, the Poe Museum, and Maymont.
Also, you can go to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and see a great collection of art. Or you can go to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and learn about the state’s history.
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden can be great to visit if you want to see beautiful nature and enjoy a leisurely stroll!
More Winston-Salem Articles
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Weekend trips from Winston-Salem
Things to do in Winston-Salem with kids
Things to do in Winston-Salem at night
Rainy day activities in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem Day Trips Tips
When doing one of the Winston-Salem day trips, there are several ways to make your time better.
I recommend bringing a battery pack with you. Your phone is very convenient when navigating a new city, and you don’t want your battery to die. A battery pack makes it easy to charge your device while you are moving.
Also, I recommend that you plan your day trip, such that you can make the most out of your time.
Day trips from Winston-Salem Map
As you see, there are many great day trips from Winston-Salem. I hope I helped you find a great one!