5 Day Trips from Winston-Salem

Thinking about a quick day trip with family and friends? Check out these 5 great trips just an hour or two from Winston-Salem!

Centrally located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality. Due to its unique proximity to both eastern and western parts of the state, it is the perfect home base for day trips to a variety of activities and unique destinations. Here is a list of the 5 top-rated day trips from Winston-Salem, North Carolina:

Chimney Rock State Park

approx: 2 hours, 29 minutes from Winston-Salem

Located 25 miles southeast of Asheville, NC and is owned by the State of North Carolina. Chimney Rock State Park is a picturesque nature reserve that is known for its breathtaking views atop Chimney Rock. Spend the day hiking, exploring, and picnicking with friends and family through this luscious outdoor green space.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

approx: 1 hour, 39 minutes from Winston-Salem

The NC Museum of Natural Science is located in downtown Raleigh and is the Southeast’s largest natural history museum. The museum comprises 4 floors of exhibits, live animals, gift shops and cafes for a day of indoor fun. In the Nature Exploration Center, you can check out more than a dozen exhibits from coastal to prehistoric North Carolina. In the Nature Research Center, you can get a glimpse of a different side of natural science with labs, weather centers, ocean, fossils and space exhibits plus a 10,000 gallon aquarium.

North Carolina Zoo

approx: 44 minutes from Winston-Salem

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), The North Carolina Zoo is nestled on 2,600 wooded acres in the heart of the state. Over 500 acres have been developed and it makes this zoological marvel the world’s largest natural habitat zoo. Grab the whole family and spend time walking through the North America and Africa lands, and see over 350 species of animals. In 2024, they will open one new exhibit land, Asia, followed by Australia a few years later.

Yadkin Valley

approx: 1 hour, 21 minutes from Winston-Salem

Located west of Winston-Salem, the Yadkin River provides a unique microclimate where special varieties of grape can be grown that are found nowhere else in the country. Due to this, there has been a winery boom in the area with over 45 unique wineries producing a multitude of wine varieties. Host an adults-only day trip with friends to the vineyards where you can sip new varieties, enjoy a hike, take in a musical performance or attend special winery events.

Carowinds

approx: 1 hour, 34 minutes from Winston-Salem

Carowinds Theme Park, located on the border of North and South Carolina is “where the Carolinas come together”. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Carowinds is a 407-acre amusement park complete with theme park, water park, campground, and hotel. The main attractions of the park are Copperhead Strike, The Intimidator, Fury 325 and Nighthawk. Outside of the traditional theme park season March – August, the park hosts SCarowinds, a Halloween attraction, and WinterFest, a December Christmas themed event. Grab the whole family and head for the thrills that suit you!