Winston-Salem, NC
A city as innovative as we are
Wake Forest’s hometown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a culturally rich mid-size city in the Piedmont Triad area of one of the nation’s fastest growing states.
The City of Arts and Innovation
Finding your place in the world begins with understanding yourself—your skills, your interests, your passions—and believing in your abilities and talents.
With a population of about 253,000, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has consistently built resources in the arts, medicine, healthcare research, education and commerce.
Located about three miles from the main campus, downtown Winston-Salem is a thriving area that includes galleries and shops; indoor and outdoor performance spaces and museums; a greenway that traverses the Old Salem district; hotels, restaurants and sidewalk cafes. You can catch a baseball game with the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
It’s easy to find something to do and experience in Winston-Salem, as well as show off your Pro Humanitate spirit.
Where campus and community come together.
The idea of Pro Humanitate (“for the betterment of humanity”) is at the center of the Wake Forest experience, and that translates to our surrounding community of Winston-Salem.
As the hub of community-based activity at Wake Forest, the Office of Civic & Community Engagement (OCCE) offers multiple pathways to involvement. Whether you are interested in leading philanthropic programs like Wake ‘N Shake and Hit the Bricks; tutoring school children; fighting food insecurity through the Campus Kitchen; or advocating for a cause, the OCCE will help you put our motto into action in Winston-Salem and beyond.
How We Rank
#25
City with a booming downtown district (24/7 Wall St.)
#60
Best place to live in the U.S. in 2024 and 2025 (U.S. News & World Report)
#50
City with the lowest cost of living nationally (Niche)
#31
City that has been recognized for diversity (Niche)
Find your something in W-S.
Our home city complements campus activities with a vibrant downtown, dining scene, live music, professional sports, historic museums, cultural festivals and much more.
Attractions, activities, and dining
Winston-Salem is a vibrant, diverse community. With so much to offer, you’ll never run out of things to see or do. Below are just a few things you may want to check out.
- Tour the Old Salem Historic District and sample traditional Moravian pastries from the Winkler Bakery. Take in a tennis match at the Winston-Salem Open.
- Stroll through Reynolda Village and Gardens, adjacent to the campus, and visit the latest exhibition at Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
- Cycle, run, boat or picnic at Salem Lake, on the city’s eastern edge, or go on a hike on one of Tanglewood Park’s many trails just west of the city.
- Have dinner with your friends at a sidewalk cafe downtown and walk to a River Run Film Festival screening at the Stevens Center.
- Check out one or several of the many eateries located downtown where you can enjoy local cuisine and make memories with friends.
- Enjoy a Friday night gallery hop in the Trade Street Arts District.
- Attend a Winston-Salem Symphony concert.
“Although the city is traditionally Southern in its friendliness, it has an international feel… a fertile land for entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Best Places to Live, 2025-26 edition
The Grounds
We’re building common grounds. And we anticipate they’ll be uncommonly fun.
Under construction and expected to be completed in 2026: The Grounds, a collection of retail shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, walking trails, residences and office spaces in the shadow of Demon Deacon athletics venues.
Connected to campus by enhanced walkways and crossings, The Grounds will be a year-round gathering place set to boost an already vibrant city of more than a quarter of a million people.
You’ll want to be here when it opens.
North Carolina
From the campus, access to the ski areas of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains is a two-hour drive, and travel to the North Carolina and South Carolina beaches takes about four hours. A number of county and state parks are short distances from campus.
Like to try a microbrew after your hike? North Carolina is the home of beer in the South with nearly 100 breweries and brewpubs—the most of any state south of Pennsylvania and east of Texas.
Raleigh (two hours) and Charlotte (90 minutes) boast world-class museums, award-winning food options, and professional football, hockey and basketball teams.
Majors & Minors
Choose from more than 50 majors and over 60 minors to find your perfect fit.
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