How far is Roanoke, VA from Amherst, VA?

The driving distance from Roanoke, VA to Amherst, VA is about 70.8 miles (113.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.4 miles (86 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 09m 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
70.78 mi
01h 34m
Flight
53.44 mi
86 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
53.44 mi
Kilometers
86 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
70.78 mi
Kilometers
113.91 km
Drive Time
01h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Amherst
Sat, Apr 11, 7:59 PM EDT
Return by in Roanoke
Sat, Apr 11, 9:34 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 Amherst
Sat, Apr 11, 7:59 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:20 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
35.4 mi
00h 47m
To Amherst
35.4 mi
00h 47m

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
78°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1304 ft · 27 sec · Franklin Road Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Williamson Road Southeast

    990 ft · 36 sec · Williamson Road Southeast

  5. 5

    Continue on Williamson Road Northeast

    1009 ft · 37 sec · Williamson Road Northeast

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Kimball Avenue Northeast

    1.2 km · 1 min · Kimball Avenue Northeast

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Orange Avenue Northeast

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Orange Avenue Northeast

  8. 8

    Continue on Challenger Avenue Northeast

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Challenger Avenue Northeast

  9. 9

    Continue on Blue Ridge Boulevard

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Blue Ridge Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

    14.6 mi · 19 min · West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike

  11. 11

    Continue on Blue Ridge Avenue

    2951 ft · 42 sec · Blue Ridge Avenue

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 460 East

    28.1 mi · 36 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 29 North: Amherst, Charlottesville

    13.1 mi · 15 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 29 Business: Amherst

    1317 ft · 37 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 29 Business: Amherst

    153 m · 14 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Court Street

    43 m · 8 sec · East Court Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Goodwin Street

    16 m · 2 sec · Goodwin Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Goodwin Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 460 East
28.1 mi · 40%
West Lynchburg Salem Turnpike
14.6 mi · 21%
US 29 North
13.1 mi · 19%
Blue Ridge Boulevard
5.49 mi · 8%
Orange Avenue Northeast
2.93 mi · 4%
Challenger Avenue Northeast
1.94 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

US 460 East

Keep slight right to continue on US 460 East

28.1 mi · 00h 36m

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 34m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.4 mi
53.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bedford
00h 47m from Roanoke
Leave By
3:20 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 70.8 miles (113.9 km) and usually takes 01h 34m 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 35.4 miles from Roanoke and 35.4 miles from Amherst.

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

The direct path is about 53.4 miles (86 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.4 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 3:20 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.90 one way or $19.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.2 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 Amherst.

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 Amherst. Straight-line distance: 53.44 mi (86 km).

Roanoke

#1 Roanoke

The most populous city in Roanoke County, Virginia.

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

#2 Amherst

Town in Virginia, USA

Population2,182
Coordinates37.5851400, -79.0514100
Altitude232
CountryUnited States
Start: Roanoke (-79.94143, 37.27097)
End: Amherst (-79.05141, 37.58514)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 114 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.5 gal
9.45 L · about $9.90
Round trip
$19.81
5 gal · 18.9 L
Estimated CO2
22.2 kg one way
Round trip: 44.4 kg / 98 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $9.90 $19.81
Mid-grade $4.43 $11.07 $22.15
Premium $4.78 $11.94 $23.89
Diesel $5.62 $14.06 $28.12

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 Amherst. The current time is 18:24:40.

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.