How far is Chester, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Chester, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 160.9 miles (259 km), with a travel time of about 02h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 137.5 miles (221.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
160.92 mi
02h 57m
Flight
137.49 mi
221.27 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
137.49 mi
Kilometers
221.27 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
160.92 mi
Kilometers
258.97 km
Drive Time
02h 57m

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 02h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Fri, Sep 25, 1:00 AM EDT
Return by in Chester
Fri, Sep 25, 3:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chester
2026-09-24T22:02
Arrive Roanoke
Fri, Sep 25, 1:00 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:58 AM to 12:58 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chester
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Appomattox
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Chester
80.3 mi
01h 28m
To Roanoke
80.6 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Overnight

Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Sep 24 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 mph N
Destination
66°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Sep 24 8:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Winfree Street

    82 m · 14 sec · Winfree Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Chester Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Chester Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto VA 145: Chester Road, Chester

    1491 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

    10.6 mi · 12 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 360 West: Hull Street Road, Amelia

    1240 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Hull Street Road

    14.2 mi · 21 min · Hull Street Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Patrick Henry Highway

    17.1 mi · 22 min · Patrick Henry Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    928 ft · 26 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Holly Farms Road

    9.2 mi · 13 min · Holly Farms Road

  10. 10

    Take the exit straight

    139 m · 12 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    4 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    29.2 mi · 35 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

    31.1 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    16 mi · 21 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  15. 15

    Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  16. 16

    Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast

    2 mi · 4 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast

  18. 18

    Continue on Orange Avenue Northeast

    3.1 mi · 7 min · Orange Avenue Northeast

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Williamson Road Northeast

    1.2 km · 2 min · Williamson Road Northeast

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  23. 23

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chester 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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Holly Farms Road
42.5 mi · 26%
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 19%
Patrick Henry Highway
17.3 mi · 11%
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi · 10%
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 9%
Hull Street Road
14.2 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

Richmond Highway

Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

31.1 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.4 mi
137.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Appomattox
01h 28m from Chester
Leave By
12:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Cloudy leaving Chester and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Roanoke.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 160.9 miles (259 km) and usually takes 02h 57m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Appomattox is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.3 miles from Chester and 80.6 miles from Roanoke.

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

The direct path is about 137.5 miles (221.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.04 one way or $48.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Cloudy around Chester and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Roanoke.

Stop Ideas Near Appomattox

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Appomattox, 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 Appomattox.

RAIL

Kemper Street station

30 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

81 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Staunton station

91 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Danville

99 mi away
677 Craghead St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chester and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 137.49 mi (221.27 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Chester

Chester is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.3568200, -77.4416500
Altitude53
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: Winfree Street (-77.441567, 37.356876)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 259 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.68 gal
21.49 L · about $24.04
Round trip
$48.08
11.36 gal · 42.98 L
Estimated CO2
50.5 kg one way
Round trip: 101 kg / 223 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.23 $24.04 $48.08
Mid-grade $4.72 $26.79 $53.59
Premium $5.10 $28.95 $57.89
Diesel $6.39 $36.27 $72.53

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 · Sep 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Chester and Roanoke. The current time is 22:02:30.

Distance to Other Cities

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