Over the past 20+ years, the city has implemented revitalization strategies to bring downtown Winston-Salem back to life. However, with that comes traffic redirections that can confuse even long-time area residents. We hope to make your experience better with tips for maneuvering downtown Winston-Salem.
Part 1: Downtown Winston-Salem Streets To Know
Finding your way around downtown Winston is easy once you’re familiar with these streets.
Burke Street
Burke Street is an excellent place to explore bars, restaurants, and boutique shops. It’s walkable, and everything is relatively close together.
Cherry Street
Cherry Street is your downtown exit on Salem Parkway (US-421 S).
Fourth Street
There isn’t a Main Street in downtown Winston-Salem, but Fourth Street is the main drag.
In 2014, Fourth Street was named a “Great Main Street” by the N.C. Chapter of the American Planning Association. The organization says Fourth Street won the honor because of its “history, mixed uses, and the vibrancy of the main downtown street in the city.” The award is part of the chapter’s Great Places in North Carolina program, created in 2012 to highlight North Carolina’s great places, communities, and people who have made them.
Fifth Street
Fifth Street is one of the northernmost areas of downtown Winston-Salem, toward the “Industry Hill” area. On Fifth Street we like Small Batch, Timmy’s Hot Chicken, and The Downtown Grille.
Liberty Street
Think of Liberty Street as an extension of Winston’s famous Arts District on Trade Street.
Marshall Street
Marshall Street is your one-way ticket out of downtown using Salem Parkway.
Patterson Avenue
Patterson Avenue runs through the Innovation Quarter.
Peters Creek Parkway
If you’re heading downtown for a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game, you’ll want to be familiar with Peters Creek Parkway.
Trade Street
The Arts District is on Trade Street and is a vibrant area of downtown known for its thriving arts scene, galleries, and unique shopping experiences.
Part 2: Tips for leaving downtown Winston-Salem heading West
Marshall Street to Salem Parkway: Salem Parkway is how I typically leave downtown. If you Marshall St N is a one-way street that runs through the middle of downtown (parallel to Cherry Street and perpendicular to Fourth Street), and your ticket to find Salem Parkway (I-40BUS W/US-158 W/US-421 N).
West End: Find Fourth Street NW. Follow it until you hit the windy streets of West End.
Research Parkway: Research Parkway is near the Innovation Quarter, but I prefer a different way to leave the Innovation Quarter (I usually take 1st or 4th to Marshall for US-421). If you insist on using Research Parkway or need to get on I-40, head south on N Patterson Ave toward 3rd St E. Take a left onto 3rd St E, and at the traffic circle, take the first exit onto Research Parkway. From there, I-40 is about a mile down.
Peters Creek Parkway: Peters Creek Parkway might be the best route if you’re leaving Truist Stadium (or one of the bazillion apartment buildings surrounding it). It ends at Second Street, a one-way street heading into downtown. Peters Creek isn’t my favorite exit route because I find it a complex area to navigate. To get to Peters Creek Parkway, get on First St, a one-way street, take a left onto Peters Creek Parkway, and take another left to merge onto US-421 N.
