How far is Norfolk, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Norfolk, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 240.8 miles (387.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 203.7 miles (327.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 42m 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
240.84 mi
04h 21m
Flight
203.7 mi
327.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Norfolk.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
203.7 mi
Kilometers
327.82 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
240.84 mi
Kilometers
387.6 km
Drive Time
04h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:08 AM EDT
Return by in Norfolk
Tue, May 5, 7:29 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Norfolk
2026-05-04T22:47
Arrive Roanoke
Tue, May 5, 3:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
8:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Norfolk
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
Louisa
VA

County in Virginia, United States

From Norfolk
140.3 mi
02h 10m
To Roanoke
100.5 mi
02h 10m

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
8 to 15 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 Norfolk and Roanoke.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East City Hall Avenue

    2127 ft · 43 sec · East City Hall Avenue

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on VA 337: Tidewater Drive

    645 ft · 28 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Tidewater Drive

    4.6 mi · 10 min · Tidewater Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left

    1157 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  6. 6

    Continue on Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

  7. 7

    Continue on Hampton Roads Beltway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Hampton Roads Beltway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 295, US 60: Washington, Rocky Mount NC

    2434 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 North: Washington

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

    22.6 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West: Charlottesville

    2936 ft · 55 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

    120.3 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    47.7 mi · 52 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward I 581, US 220 South: Airport, Roanoke

    5.9 mi · 8 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11 South, US 220 Business South: Downtown

    587 ft · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    1668 ft · 56 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  21. 21

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Norfolk 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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
169 mi · 70%
Hampton Roads Beltway
72.5 mi · 30%
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 9%
I 581
5.88 mi · 2%
Tidewater Drive
4.56 mi · 2%
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
3.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Merge slight left onto I 64 West: Charlottesville

120 mi · 02h 11m

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 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.1 mi
203.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Louisa
02h 10m from Norfolk
Leave By
8:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Norfolk 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 Norfolk to Roanoke?

The road trip is about 240.8 miles (387.6 km) and usually takes 04h 21m 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?

Louisa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.3 miles from Norfolk and 100.5 miles from Roanoke.

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

The direct path is about 203.7 miles (327.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.1 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 8:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.67 one way or $67.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Louisa

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

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

RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

43 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Culpeper station

50 mi away
109 South Commerce Street
RAIL

Ashland

55 mi away
112 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Fredericksburg

57 mi away
200 Lafayette Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Norfolk and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 203.7 mi (327.82 km).

Norfolk

#1 Norfolk

The most populous city in Virginia.

Population242,803
Coordinates36.8468100, -76.2852200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: US 460 Alternate (-76.285227, 36.846793)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 388 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.5 gal
32.17 L · about $33.67
Round trip
$67.34
17 gal · 64.34 L
Estimated CO2
75.5 kg one way
Round trip: 151.1 kg / 333 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.67 $67.34
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.65 $75.29
Premium $4.78 $40.61 $81.23
Diesel $5.62 $47.80 $95.61

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 Norfolk and Roanoke. The current time is 22:47:50.

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.