How far is Chesapeake, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Chesapeake, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 242.4 miles (390.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 204.6 miles (329.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
242.38 mi
04h 24m
Flight
204.58 mi
329.24 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chesapeake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
204.58 mi
Kilometers
329.24 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
242.38 mi
Kilometers
390.07 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:11 AM EDT
Return by in Chesapeake
Tue, May 5, 7:35 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chesapeake
2026-05-04T22:47
Arrive Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:11 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:24 AM to 12:24 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:12 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chesapeake
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Crewe
VA

Town of the United States

From Chesapeake
121.2 mi
02h 12m
To Roanoke
121.2 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Monday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chesapeake and Roanoke.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chesapeake and Roanoke.

  1. 1

    Start on D Street

    126 m · 21 sec · D Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Poindexter Street

    1617 ft · 29 sec · Poindexter Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 464 North

    1284 ft · 18 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 264 West Toll: Downtown Tunnel, Portsmouth

    580 ft · 14 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 264 West Toll: Tunnel

    2569 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    6.7 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 664: Bowers Hill, Suffolk, Richmond

    1 km · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    2197 ft · 31 sec · Hampton Roads Beltway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 13, US 58, US 460, VA 191 North: Suffolk, Military Highway

    1598 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    3155 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Continue on West Military Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Military Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Portsmouth Boulevard

    8.2 mi · 10 min · Portsmouth Boulevard

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460: Petersburg

    1187 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery

    49.6 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Rives Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Rives Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp right toward I 95 North

    1152 ft · 28 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85 South, US 460 West: Durham, Blackstone

    3098 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight right onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    6 mi · 7 min · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460 West: Blackstone, Lynchburg

    1060 ft · 26 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Airport Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Airport Street

  23. 23

    Continue on New Cox Road

    23 mi · 27 min · New Cox Road

  24. 24

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · East Colonial Trail Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on East Colonial Trail Road

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East Colonial Trail Road

  26. 26

    Continue on East Colonial Trail

    7.5 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway

    11.6 mi · 15 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  29. 29

    Keep slight left

    29.2 mi · 35 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

    31.1 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    16 mi · 21 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  32. 32

    Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  33. 33

    Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard

  34. 34

    Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast

    2 mi · 4 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast

  35. 35

    Continue on Orange Avenue Northeast

    3.1 mi · 7 min · Orange Avenue Northeast

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Williamson Road Northeast

    1.2 km · 2 min · Williamson Road Northeast

  37. 37

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  38. 38

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  40. 40

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  41. 41

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chesapeake and Roanoke.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
42 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
6 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 460 West
49.8 mi · 21%
West Colonial Trail Highway
42.3 mi · 17%
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 13%
New Cox Road
23 mi · 9%
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi · 7%
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

US 460 West

Keep slight right to continue on US 460 West: Petersburg, Albert G Horton Junior Memorial, Veterans Cemetery

49.6 mi · 01h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.8 mi
204.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crewe
02h 12m from Chesapeake
Leave By
8:12 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chesapeake and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Roanoke.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chesapeake to Roanoke?

The road trip is about 242.4 miles (390.1 km) and usually takes 04h 24m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Crewe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 121.2 miles from Chesapeake and 121.2 miles from Roanoke.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 204.6 miles (329.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:12 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.87 one way or $67.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chesapeake and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Roanoke.

Stop Ideas Near Crewe

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Crewe, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Crewe.

RAIL

Petersburg station

62 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Main Street Station

73 mi away
1500 East Main Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

74 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road
RAIL

Ashland

86 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chesapeake and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 204.58 mi (329.24 km).

Chesapeake

#1 Chesapeake

The second most populous city in Virginia.

Population247,011
Coordinates36.8190400, -76.2749400
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: D Street (-76.275044, 36.81897)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 390 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.55 gal
32.38 L · about $33.87
Round trip
$67.73
17.1 gal · 64.76 L
Estimated CO2
76 kg one way
Round trip: 152 kg / 335 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.87 $67.73
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.87 $75.74
Premium $4.78 $40.85 $81.70
Diesel $5.62 $48.09 $96.17

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Virginia · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Chesapeake and Roanoke. The current time is 22:47:24.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.