How far is Roanoke, VA from Altavista, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Altavista, VA is about 44.9 miles (72.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 37.7 miles (60.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 25m 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
44.84 mi
01h 12m
Flight
37.74 mi
60.73 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Roanoke.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
37.74 mi
Kilometers
60.73 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
44.84 mi
Kilometers
72.16 km
Drive Time
01h 12m

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 01h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Altavista
Sat, Apr 11, 7:36 PM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Sat, Apr 11, 8:49 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Roanoke
2026-04-11T18:24
Arrive Altavista
Sat, Apr 11, 7:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Roanoke
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
Bedford
VA

Town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

From Roanoke
22.4 mi
00h 36m
To Altavista
22.4 mi
00h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    87 m · 26 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest

    602 ft · 34 sec · 1st Street Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left onto Franklin Road Southwest

    566 ft · 14 sec · Franklin Road Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Jefferson Street

    870 ft · 39 sec · South Jefferson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Elm Avenue Southeast

    1850 ft · 37 sec · Elm Avenue Southeast

  6. 6

    Continue on Jamison Avenue Southeast

    130 m · 7 sec · Jamison Avenue Southeast

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Bullitt Avenue Southeast

    1.1 km · 1 min · Bullitt Avenue Southeast

  8. 8

    Continue on Jamison Avenue Southeast

    993 ft · 19 sec · Jamison Avenue Southeast

  9. 9

    Continue on Dale Avenue Southeast

    1.1 km · 1 min · Dale Avenue Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on West Virginia Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Virginia Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Hardy Road

    3229 ft · 1 min · Hardy Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Bypass Road

    1916 ft · 38 sec · Bypass Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Washington Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Washington Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Stewartsville Road

    17.3 mi · 26 min · Stewartsville Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Shingle Block Road

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Shingle Block Road

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Glenwood Drive

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Glenwood Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Leesville Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Leesville Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Mentow Drive

    1.6 km · 2 min · Mentow Drive

  19. 19

    Continue on Bishops Creek Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Bishops Creek Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Bishop Creek Road

    4.1 mi · 7 min · Bishop Creek Road

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Bedford Highway

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Bedford Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Bedford Avenue

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Bedford Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto 7th Street

    2297 ft · 1 min · 7th Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Franklin Avenue

    111 m · 17 sec · Franklin Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Main Street

    9 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Roanoke and Altavista.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
26 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Stewartsville Road
17.3 mi · 39%
Shingle Block Road
5.48 mi · 12%
Bishop Creek Road
4.15 mi · 9%
Bishops Creek Road
3.09 mi · 7%
Glenwood Drive
2.6 mi · 6%
East Washington Avenue
1.76 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Stewartsville Road

Continue on Stewartsville Road

17.3 mi · 00h 26m

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
01h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
37.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bedford
00h 36m from Roanoke
Leave By
4:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Roanoke and Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers near Altavista.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 44.9 miles (72.2 km) and usually takes 01h 12m 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?

Bedford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.4 miles from Roanoke and 22.4 miles from Altavista.

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

The direct path is about 37.7 miles (60.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 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 4:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.26 one way or $12.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Roanoke and Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers near Altavista.

Stop Ideas Near Bedford

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

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

RAIL

Kemper Street station

33 mi away
825 Kemper St
BUS

Roanoke

37 mi away
710 Williamson Road NE
RAIL

Clifton Forge

60 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street
BUS

Blacksburg, VA

80 mi away
291 Alumni Mall -- Transit Concourse

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Roanoke and Altavista. Straight-line distance: 37.74 mi (60.73 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

Population99,058
Coordinates37.2709700, -79.9414300
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Altavista

#2 Altavista

Town in Virginia

Population3,422
Coordinates37.1118100, -79.2855800
Altitude169
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Altavista (-79.28558, 37.11181)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 72 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.58 gal
5.99 L · about $6.26
Round trip
$12.52
3.16 gal · 11.98 L
Estimated CO2
14 kg one way
Round trip: 28.1 kg / 62 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $6.26 $12.52
Mid-grade $4.43 $7.00 $14.00
Premium $4.78 $7.55 $15.10
Diesel $5.62 $8.89 $17.77

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Roanoke and Altavista. The current time is 18:24:09.

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.