If your job, family, or daily routine could pull you in more than one Triad direction, commute planning should be part of your home search from day one. That is especially true in High Point, where your drive or transit options may look very different depending on whether you need to reach Greensboro, Winston-Salem, PTI, or points south. The good news is that High Point sits in a practical middle position for many buyers who want flexibility, not just one commute path. Let’s dive in.
Why High Point works for Triad commuters
High Point is not a single-direction bedroom community. The city describes itself as a transportation hub with access to I-40, I-73, I-74, I-85, and major US routes including 29, 64, 70, and 220.
That matters when you are buying a home. Instead of being locked into one main job center, you may have workable access to several parts of the Triad depending on where you need to go most often.
Census QuickFacts put the average one-way travel time to work at 20.7 minutes in High Point. For context, the average is 21.7 minutes in Greensboro, 21.5 minutes in Winston-Salem, and 22.0 minutes in Guilford County.
Start with your destination
When you compare homes in and around High Point, it helps to think about commuting by destination, not by city name alone. High Point’s transportation patterns are strongest in a few key directions.
Those main commute corridors include:
- Greensboro and Jamestown to the northeast
- Winston-Salem to the northwest
- PTI and north-side job centers to the north
- Thomasville, Archdale, Trinity, and Lexington to the south and southwest
If your household has two different work locations, this destination-first approach can save you time. It can also help you focus your home search on areas that better fit your real daily routine.
Greensboro and Jamestown commute options
For many buyers, the Greensboro and Jamestown corridor is one of the biggest reasons High Point makes sense. The High Point MPO identifies Greensboro and Jamestown as a primary northeast travel market.
Heavily traveled routes in that direction include US 29-70, Wendover Avenue, and High Point-Greensboro Road. If your work, school, appointments, or regular errands take you northeast, these are the names you will want to recognize early in your search.
Transit is also part of the picture here. PART Route 3 connects the High Point Broad Avenue Terminal with the Coble Transportation Center in Greensboro, which is a major regional transfer point.
From Coble, riders can connect to additional PART routes, including the Winston-Salem Express, Greensboro Express, and airport shuttles. PART also says free parking is offered to Express riders on Route 3.
PART Route 9 is another useful option in this corridor. It connects Thomasville, High Point, and Greensboro and serves stops including GTCC High Point, High Point Terminal, UNCG, and Greensboro Depot.
Winston-Salem commute options
If you need to travel northwest, the High Point MPO identifies High Point to Winston-Salem via I-74 as a major corridor. For buyers working in healthcare, downtown Winston-Salem, or nearby employment centers, this route can be an important part of your decision.
PART Route 74 is the direct High Point/Winston-Salem Express. It runs Monday through Friday and connects the High Point Depot with Winston-Salem stops that include Innovation Quarter, the Clark Campbell Transportation Center, Baptist Medical, and Novant Forsyth Medical Center.
That gives some buyers another way to think about commute planning. If you want to reduce daily driving or keep a backup option in place, express transit may make certain home locations more attractive.
PTI and northbound access
Some buyers need regular access to Piedmont Triad International Airport or nearby north-side job centers. In that case, the High Point MPO points to NC 68/Eastchester Drive as a key northbound route.
This can be especially helpful if your work involves travel, airport-related jobs, or destinations spread across the northern part of the Triad. It is also worth noting if you share one vehicle or want more than one way to reach work.
PART offers on-demand microtransit from the Coble Transportation Center to PTI and the surrounding area. Route 17 also serves Kernersville Medical Center, Kernersville Town Hall, and Winston-Salem, with park-and-ride access available.
Thomasville, Archdale, Trinity, and Lexington routes
For buyers looking south or southwest, High Point also has meaningful connections. The MPO notes radial demand between High Point, Thomasville, Archdale, Trinity, and Wallburg, and identifies Lexington as a southwest commute market via I-85 and US 29/70.
That is useful if your work life is spread across several nearby communities rather than one central office. It can also matter if you want to stay close to family, services, or familiar routines in multiple Triad locations.
PART Route 9 serves Thomasville Park & Ride, GTCC High Point, High Point Terminal, and Greensboro Depot. For some buyers, that creates an added layer of flexibility beyond driving alone.
Local transit in High Point
High Point Transit is the city’s local bus system, and the terminal is located at 201 West Broad Avenue. According to the city, local buses run Monday through Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
There is no Sunday service. If you rely on transit for work, errands, or a one-car household plan, that schedule is important to factor into your home search.
For some buyers, local transit is not the main way they commute. Even so, access to the terminal and local routes can still be valuable for day-to-day convenience.
Park-and-ride and regional transfers
One of the smartest ways to evaluate High Point commuting is to look beyond your front door and think about your transfer points. In the Triad, a few hubs can play a big role in how practical your routine feels.
Key options mentioned in the regional system include:
- High Point Broad Avenue Terminal for local and regional connections
- Coble Transportation Center in Greensboro as the main regional transfer node
- Thomasville Park & Ride for Route 9
- Kernersville Medical Center Park & Ride for Route 17
- Kernersville Town Hall Park & Ride for Route 17
If you expect to mix driving with transit, these locations deserve attention. They can shape whether a commute feels manageable five days a week, not just possible on paper.
Rail connections for longer regional trips
For buyers who want another backup option, High Point also has a rail-related advantage. Route 74 connects High Point Transit and Amtrak at the High Point Depot, which makes rail-plus-bus combinations possible for longer regional trips.
That will not fit every household’s daily routine. Still, for some buyers, having bus and rail connections in the same commute ecosystem adds useful flexibility.
How to use commute data in your home search
It is easy to fall in love with a kitchen, backyard, or floor plan and treat the commute as an afterthought. In real life, the trip you make over and over can have just as much impact on your budget, energy, and stress level.
Before you choose where to focus your search, think through these questions:
- Where do you need to go most often?
- Do you commute to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, PTI, or multiple places?
- Will you drive every day, or do you want transit backup?
- Do you need access to a park-and-ride lot?
- Are your work hours compatible with local or regional transit schedules?
- Does your household need a location that supports two different commute directions?
For first-time buyers especially, this step can keep you from choosing a home that looks right online but feels hard to live in week after week.
Why this matters for first-time buyers
If you are buying your first home, commute planning can protect more than your schedule. It can also protect your monthly budget, your time, and your confidence in the decision.
High Point can be appealing because it offers access to more than one major Triad corridor. For buyers trying to balance affordability, job access, and future flexibility, that middle-ground location can be worth a closer look.
The right strategy is not about chasing a perfect map. It is about matching your home purchase to the places you actually need to be.
If you are comparing High Point with nearby Triad areas, a local buyer’s agent can help you weigh commute routes alongside price, home style, and long-term goals. If you want help building a smart plan around your budget and your day-to-day routine, Melanie Pipes is here to help.
FAQs
What is the average commute time in High Point, NC?
- Census QuickFacts list the average one-way travel time to work in High Point at 20.7 minutes.
What are the main commute directions from High Point?
- The main commute corridors identified in local planning documents are Greensboro and Jamestown to the northeast, Winston-Salem to the northwest, PTI to the north, and Thomasville or Lexington to the south and southwest.
What transit options connect High Point to Greensboro?
- PART Route 3 connects the High Point Broad Avenue Terminal to Greensboro’s Coble Transportation Center, and PART Route 9 also links High Point with Greensboro.
What transit option connects High Point to Winston-Salem?
- PART Route 74 is the direct High Point/Winston-Salem Express and connects the High Point Depot with several Winston-Salem stops on weekdays.
Does High Point have local bus service?
- Yes. High Point Transit operates local bus service from the terminal at 201 West Broad Avenue on weekdays and Saturdays, with no Sunday service.
Are there park-and-ride options for Triad commuters near High Point?
- Yes. The regional system includes locations such as Thomasville Park & Ride, Kernersville Medical Center Park & Ride, and Kernersville Town Hall Park & Ride, along with transfer access at Coble Transportation Center in Greensboro.
