How far is Emporia, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Emporia, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.4 miles (222.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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
176.35 mi
03h 28m
Flight
138.44 mi
222.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Emporia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.44 mi
Kilometers
222.8 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
176.35 mi
Kilometers
283.8 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

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 03h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Sat, Apr 18, 8:58 PM EDT
Return by in Emporia
Sun, Apr 19, 12:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Emporia
2026-04-18T17:30
Arrive Roanoke
Sat, Apr 18, 8:58 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Emporia
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
Hampden Sydney
VA

Census designated place

From Emporia
88.1 mi
01h 44m
To Roanoke
88.2 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph S
Destination
89°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Hicksford Avenue

    27 m · 7 sec · Hicksford Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Atlantic Street

    2341 ft · 1 min · West Atlantic Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Market Drive

    1092 ft · 39 sec · Market Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left

    17.2 mi · 24 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1140 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Church Street

    993 ft · 34 sec · West Church Street

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Windsor Avenue

    2475 ft · 1 min · Windsor Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Christanna Highway

    18.8 mi · 27 min · Christanna Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Brunswick Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Brunswick Road

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    2732 ft · 1 min · 4th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Amelia Avenue

    1107 ft · 35 sec · South Amelia Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Church Street

    3036 ft · 1 min · Church Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Old Nottoway Road

    5.4 mi · 8 min · Old Nottoway Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp straight

    1175 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto East Colonial Trail

    7.4 mi · 11 min · East Colonial Trail

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto West Colonial Trail Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on West Colonial Trail Highway

    11.6 mi · 15 min · West Colonial Trail Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    29.2 mi · 35 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Richmond Highway

    31.1 mi · 38 min · Richmond Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    16 mi · 21 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  24. 24

    Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  25. 25

    Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard

  26. 26

    Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast

    2 mi · 4 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast

  27. 27

    Continue on Orange Avenue Northeast

    3.1 mi · 7 min · Orange Avenue Northeast

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Williamson Road Northeast

    1.2 km · 2 min · Williamson Road Northeast

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  30. 30

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  32. 32

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  33. 33

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Emporia 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
34 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Colonial Trail Highway
42.3 mi · 24%
Richmond Highway
31.1 mi · 18%
Christanna Highway
18.8 mi · 11%
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
16 mi · 9%
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 8%
East Colonial Trail
7.36 mi · 4%
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 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
03h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.9 mi
138.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hampden Sydney
01h 44m from Emporia
Leave By
10:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Emporia and Mostly Sunny near Roanoke.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 176.3 miles (283.8 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?

Hampden Sydney is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.1 miles from Emporia and 88.2 miles from Roanoke.

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

The direct path is about 138.4 miles (222.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.9 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 10:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.64 one way or $49.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Emporia and Mostly Sunny near Roanoke.

Stop Ideas Near Hampden Sydney

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

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

RAIL

Kemper Street station

64 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

88 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Petersburg station

91 mi away
3516 South Street
RAIL

Richmond Staples Mill Road station

95 mi away
7519 Staples Mill Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Emporia and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 138.44 mi (222.8 km).

Emporia

#1 Emporia

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Population5,257
Coordinates36.6859800, -77.5424800
Altitude34
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: Hicksford Avenue (-77.54249, 36.685948)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 284 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.22 gal
23.56 L · about $24.64
Round trip
$49.27
12.44 gal · 47.12 L
Estimated CO2
55.3 kg one way
Round trip: 110.6 kg / 244 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.64 $49.27
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.55 $55.10
Premium $4.78 $29.72 $59.44
Diesel $5.62 $34.98 $69.96

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 · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Emporia and Roanoke. The current time is 17:30:04.

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.