How far is Richmond, VA from Roanoke, VA?

The driving distance from Richmond, VA to Roanoke, VA is about 187.1 miles (301.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 137.6 miles (221.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 43m 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
187.08 mi
02h 51m
Flight
137.56 mi
221.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Richmond.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
137.56 mi
Kilometers
221.38 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
187.08 mi
Kilometers
301.07 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Roanoke
Wed, Apr 22, 10:18 PM EDT
Return by in Richmond
Thu, Apr 23, 1:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-04-22T19:26
Arrive Roanoke
Wed, Apr 22, 10:18 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Richmond
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
Waynesboro
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Richmond
93.4 mi
01h 25m
To Roanoke
93.7 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Marcus-David Peters Circle

    525 ft · 15 sec · Marcus-David Peters Circle

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Monument Avenue

    684 ft · 26 sec · Monument Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Meadow Street

    1157 ft · 30 sec · North Meadow Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Hermitage Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Hermitage Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Robin Hood Road

    908 ft · 32 sec · Robin Hood Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

    962 ft · 30 sec · North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

  7. 7

    Turn left onto I 95 North, I 64 West

    988 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

    1797 ft · 28 sec · Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville

    130.2 mi · 2 hr 23 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    47.7 mi · 52 min

  11. 11

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

    5.9 mi · 8 min

  12. 12

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

    587 ft · 17 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    1668 ft · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Salem Avenue Southeast

    849 ft · 31 sec · Salem Avenue Southeast

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Street

    145 m · 20 sec · South Jefferson Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Kirk Avenue Southwest

    115 m · 22 sec · Kirk Avenue Southwest

  17. 17

    Turn left

    35 m · 14 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left

    40 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Richmond 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
19 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 West
178 mi · 95%
I 581
5.88 mi · 3%
Hermitage Road
1.07 mi · 1%
US 11 South
0.43 mi
Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
0.34 mi
North Meadow Street
0.22 mi
Longest Stretch

I 64 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 64 West, I 195 South: Charlottesville

130 mi · 02h 23m

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 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.5 mi
137.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waynesboro
01h 25m from Richmond
Leave By
12:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Richmond and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Roanoke.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 187.1 miles (301.1 km) and usually takes 02h 51m 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?

Waynesboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.4 miles from Richmond and 93.7 miles from Roanoke.

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

The direct path is about 137.6 miles (221.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.5 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 12:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.14 one way or $52.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Richmond and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Roanoke.

Stop Ideas Near Waynesboro

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

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

RAIL

Staunton station

18 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
RAIL

Charlottesville Union Station

35 mi away
810 West Main St
RAIL

Kemper Street station

77 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Clifton Forge

88 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Richmond and Roanoke. Straight-line distance: 137.56 mi (221.38 km).

Richmond

#1 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Roanoke

#2 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Start: Robert E. Lee Circle (-77.460437, 37.553637)
End: Kirk Avenue Southwest (-79.941424, 37.271173)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 301 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.6 gal
24.99 L · about $26.14
Round trip
$52.29
13.2 gal · 49.98 L
Estimated CO2
58.7 kg one way
Round trip: 117.3 kg / 259 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.14 $52.29
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.23 $58.46
Premium $4.78 $31.53 $63.07
Diesel $5.62 $37.12 $74.24

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Richmond and Roanoke. The current time is 19:26:42.

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.