How far is Richmond, VA from Rocky Mount, VA?

The driving distance from Richmond, VA to Rocky Mount, VA is about 168.8 miles (271.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.1 miles (223.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 38m 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
168.76 mi
03h 49m
Flight
139.1 mi
223.86 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Richmond.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.1 mi
Kilometers
223.86 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.76 mi
Kilometers
271.6 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rocky Mount
Thu, Apr 30, 5:20 AM EDT
Return by in Richmond
Thu, Apr 30, 9:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Richmond
2026-04-30T01:31
Arrive Rocky Mount
Thu, Apr 30, 5:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 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
9:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Richmond
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
Appomattox
VA

Town in Virginia, United States

From Richmond
84.3 mi
01h 54m
To Rocky Mount
84.4 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph NW
Destination
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond and Rocky Mount.

  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 · 29 sec · Monument Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Meadow Street

    2437 ft · 1 min · North Meadow Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    3079 ft · 2 min · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Ellwood Avenue

    837 ft · 36 sec · Ellwood Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto South Sheppard Street

    754 ft · 25 sec · South Sheppard Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Parkwood Avenue

    1038 ft · 43 sec · Parkwood Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto McCloy Street

    1223 ft · 45 sec · McCloy Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Maplewood Avenue

    9 m · 1 sec · Maplewood Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward VA 76 Toll South

    1078 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    3000 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Powhite Parkway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Powhite Parkway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on E-ZPass Only (Powhite Parkway)

    1.6 km · 2 min · E-ZPass Only (Powhite Parkway)

  14. 14

    Merge slight right onto Powhite Parkway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Powhite Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Midlothian Turnpike

    1518 ft · 37 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on US 60: Midlothian Turnpike

    791 ft · 19 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on US 60 West: Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian

    1625 ft · 41 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Midlothian Turnpike

    9.9 mi · 16 min · Midlothian Turnpike

  19. 19

    Continue on Anderson Highway

    36.7 mi · 48 min · Anderson Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on East James Anderson Highway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · East James Anderson Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on West James Anderson Highway

    7.8 mi · 10 min · West James Anderson Highway

  22. 22

    Turn slight left onto Mount Rush Highway

    8.6 mi · 10 min · Mount Rush Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Old Courthouse Road

    10 mi · 11 min · Old Courthouse Road

  24. 24

    Take the exit right toward US 460 West, VA 24 West

    1211 ft · 30 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Richmond Highway

    28.9 mi · 36 min · Richmond Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    13.9 mi · 18 min · East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 122 South, VA 122 Business North

    1079 ft · 32 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Burks Hill Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Burks Hill Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Moneta Road

    15.9 mi · 23 min · Moneta Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Halesford Bridge

    1037 ft · 20 sec · Halesford Bridge

  31. 31

    Continue on Booker T Washington Highway

    5.6 mi · 9 min · Booker T Washington Highway

  32. 32

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Booker T Washington Highway

    54 m · 3 sec · Booker T Washington Highway

  33. 33

    Exit the roundabout onto Booker T Washington Highway

    11.4 mi · 16 min · Booker T Washington Highway

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Old Franklin Turnpike

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Old Franklin Turnpike

  35. 35

    Continue on Pell Avenue

    764 ft · 19 sec · Pell Avenue

  36. 36

    Turn slight right

    1.1 km · 1 min

  37. 37

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

    56 m · 9 sec · North Main Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1933 ft · 41 sec · Franklin Street

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Franklin Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Richmond and Rocky Mount.

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
39 steps
20 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Anderson Highway
36.7 mi · 22%
Richmond Highway
28.9 mi · 17%
Booker T Washington Highway
17.1 mi · 10%
Moneta Road
15.9 mi · 9%
East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
13.9 mi · 8%
Old Courthouse Road
10 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Anderson Highway

Continue on Anderson Highway

36.7 mi · 00h 48m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.7 mi
139.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Appomattox
01h 54m from Richmond
Leave By
9:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Richmond and Mostly Sunny near Rocky Mount.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Richmond to Rocky Mount?

The road trip is about 168.8 miles (271.6 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Appomattox is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.3 miles from Richmond and 84.4 miles from Rocky Mount.

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

The direct path is about 139.1 miles (223.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.7 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 9:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.57 one way or $47.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Richmond and Mostly Sunny near Rocky Mount.

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 Richmond and Rocky Mount. Straight-line distance: 139.1 mi (223.86 km).

Richmond

#1 Richmond

The capital of Virginia.

Population232,226
Coordinates37.5537600, -77.4602600
Altitude64
CountryUnited States
Rocky Mount

#2 Rocky Mount

Town in Virginia

Population4,712
Coordinates36.9976400, -79.8919800
Altitude345
CountryUnited States
Start: Richmond (-77.46026, 37.55376)
End: Rocky Mount (-79.89198, 36.99764)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 272 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.95 gal
22.54 L · about $23.57
Round trip
$47.14
11.9 gal · 45.08 L
Estimated CO2
52.9 kg one way
Round trip: 105.8 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.57 $47.14
Mid-grade $4.43 $26.35 $52.71
Premium $4.78 $28.43 $56.86
Diesel $5.62 $33.46 $66.93

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Richmond and Rocky Mount. The current time is 01:31:15.

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.