Visiting Winston-Salem for a Game?

The primary gateway is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), roughly 83–85 miles and about 90 minutes by car from downtown Winston-Salem via I-85 North to US-52 North. Renting a car at CLT is the most practical option for sports fans, as the drive is straightforward and parking near venues is widely available. Uber is available from CLT but the roughly 90-minute ride will run significantly higher than a typical airport trip, so a rental or pre-arranged shuttle is the better value for most travelers.

Winston-Salem is a car-dependent city, and a rental vehicle is strongly recommended for any sports fan trip. The Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) operates local bus routes centered on the Clark Campbell Transportation Center at 100 W. Fifth Street downtown, but service frequency and coverage are limited for game-day use. Uber and Lyft both operate in the city and are a reliable fallback for short hops between your hotel, downtown, and the stadium on game day.

The downtown Winston-Salem corridor, including the Arts District and the Innovation Quarter area, puts fans closest to restaurants, bars, and the energy around campus. Expect to pay roughly $120-$180 per night at mid-range hotels like the Marriott or Embassy Suites downtown on a standard weekend, with prices spiking on big home game weekends, particularly rivalry games and Homecoming. Budget travelers will find better rates near the University Parkway and Hanes Mall Boulevard corridors, though those locations require a short drive or rideshare to Truist Field. Book well in advance for high-profile ACC matchups, as Winston-Salem is a smaller market where the good downtown rooms sell out fast.

Winston-Salem is essentially a one-team college football town built around Wake Forest, so the atmosphere at Truist Field on a big ACC game day has an intimate, passionate quality rare in larger markets. The Demon Deacons play in the ACC, meaning visiting fans can catch marquee conference opponents rolling through, and the relatively compact stadium size makes for a loud, close environment. The broader Piedmont Triad region also puts fans within easy reach of Greensboro for Guilford College athletic events and High Point University sports, offering multi-sport weekend possibilities. Winston-Salem's thriving craft beer scene in the West End and downtown neighborhoods gives fans plenty of pre- and post-game options on game day.